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Strategic city returns to frontline of Iran-US war

2026-09-14 19:01:19Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

Strategic city returns to frontline of Iran-US war

The city of Mocha in Yemen has become a major front in the regional conflict, after the Houthis took control of it following a swift offensive.

On the morning of September 10, residents were awakened by explosions and gunfire. Within hours, government forces and the National Resistance retreated southward, while Houthi fighters entered the city center.

A fisherman in his 60s, Ali Al-Ahdal, said residents did not have time to leave.

"The city fell within a few hours. The exits were immediately closed and the sea, which was the source of our livelihood, turned into a war zone," he said, Ynet reported.

The offensive did not come out of nowhere. Since August 9, the Houthis had launched more than 25 missile attacks on Mocha and its port, while government forces had reinforced their positions.

On September 3, the attacks expanded to the western fronts of Taiz and the Hays district of Hodeidah. The Houthis claimed to have taken control of six districts, covering an area of ​​about 5,400 square kilometers.

The advance was accompanied by rocket and drone attacks on government positions, followed by the advance of ground forces.

On September 9, the Houthis took control of the Al-Wazi'iyah area, then the Jabal al-Nar mountain east of Mocha, and the Khalid bin Al-Walid military camp, one of the largest bases in Yemen.

Within less than 48 hours, Hays, Khokha, and Mocha also fell. Government forces retreated further, while the Houthis also took control of Hodeidah and the islands facing the Bab el-Mandab Strait.

The speed of the offensive has raised questions in Yemen about possible desertions and infiltrations within government forces.

After the city was taken, residents also reported arrests. Among those detained, according to testimonies collected by The Media Line, were activists, journalists, doctors and aid workers.

A Houthi commander, known by the nom de guerre Abu Rajeh, described the operation as a strategic plan based on surprise and the coordination of drones with ground forces.

"We wanted to take the fort and secure Yemen's sovereignty over the territorial waters in Bab el-Mandab," he declared.

On the other hand, a government forces officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the troops were forced to withdraw after intense attacks.

"Our positions were hit with unprecedented firepower and rockets. The withdrawal was a tactical step to protect forces and civilians," he said.

The officer added that the battle is not over.

"Mocha, Bab el-Mandab and the surrounding districts remain the center of a military operation. The battle is not over yet," he said.

The city's importance is linked to its position near the Bab el-Mandab Strait, one of the main international shipping routes. The escalation in this area comes at a time when the Strait of Hormuz has faced severe disruptions due to the Iran-US and Israel conflict.

The Houthis have also declared a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia and have carried out attacks on ships near the strait, as well as on Saudi energy infrastructure. Riyadh has asked Washington for military intervention against Houthi positions, but the Donald Trump administration has so far rejected this request.

The escalation has also brought a new wave of displacement. The International Organization for Migration has recorded around 76,000 people fleeing Taiz and Hodeidah since September 3.

Meanwhile, fighting on Yemen's west coast continues. Government forces have announced airstrikes on Houthi positions near the port of Mocha and the Dhubab area, while they have also launched a counteroffensive in rural areas of Taiz.

For the residents of Mocha, the geopolitical clash has become a fight for survival.

"We have become fuel for a war that leaves nothing untouched. We just want to live safely in our homes and return to fishing and our simple lives," said fisherman Ali Al-Ahdal.


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