'Air support never came': How Houthis caught Saudi forces off guard in 'lightning' strike

Yemen's strategically important Red Sea port of Mocha fell to Iran-backed Houthi fighters in a rapid offensive after forces defending the city appealed for Saudi air support that never arrived, according to CNN.The collapse came after a day of intense fighting, with Houthi fighters advancing in large numbers towards the port city held by forces aligned with Yemen's internationally recognised government. A senior Yemeni source involved with the defence of Mocha told CNN that the Houthis had committed “everything they had” to the assault, including waves of fighters, ballistic missiles and other weapons.The source said Yemeni commanders contacted the US Central Command (CENTCOM) as the attack intensified and were assured that Washington was monitoring the situation and that Saudi air support was on its way.“But the air support never came,” the source told CNN. “And Mocha has now fallen.”CNN correspondent Nic Robertson reported that communications with commanders and officials inside Mocha were cut during the fighting. By late afternoon, Yemen's information minister confirmed that the Houthis had taken control of the city.The speed of the offensive has raised questions over the preparedness of Saudi-backed Yemeni forces and the extent of military support Riyadh and Washington are willing to provide as the conflict expands.CNN reported that the Houthi advance did not stop at Mocha. Within hours, the rebels moved to seize Perim Island, a strategic position at the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Yemeni sources said the island fell on Friday.The developments give the Houthis control of two crucial positions close to one of the world's most important shipping routes. Mocha lies close to the narrowest part of the Bab el-Mandeb, while Perim sits within the strait itself.Robertson reported that the road south from Mocha towards Perim is largely flat desert with few major settlements or defensive positions, making it difficult for government forces to halt a rapid Houthi advance. CNN also reported that the Houthis could use their newly gained position on the coast to deploy boats, including explosive uncrewed vessels, against shipping.The offensive comes as Saudi Arabia faces mounting pressure from the wider regional conflict. Houthi attacks on Saudi targets have intensified in recent weeks, while Riyadh has also been dealing with disruptions to its oil export routes.For Saudi Arabia, the loss of Mocha and Perim threatens an alternative route for oil shipments at a time when Iran's disruption of the Strait of Hormuz has already put pressure on Gulf energy exports.CNN reported that the latest Houthi gains represent a dramatic escalation in a conflict that had remained largely frozen for years, opening another front in the wider confrontation between Iran and the United States.Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.