Yemeni families flee al-Khokha as Houthis seize Red Sea coast
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
Houthi forces seized the Red Sea coastal city of Mocha and surrounding areas on September 9, prompting government troops to withdraw. Families from al-Khokha fled their homes as the Houthis advanced, with some taking refuge in Mukalla. The offensive gave the Houthis control of the Bab al-Mandeb strait.
Key Facts
- Houthi forces seized Mocha and al-Khokha on September 9, completing their offensive on Yemen's Red Sea coast.
- The offensive gave the Houthis control of the Bab al-Mandeb strait.
- Saeed Hassan, 58, and his brother Mohammed, 47, fled al-Khokha with their families and took refuge in Mukalla.
- A missile hit a camp for displaced people near al-Khokha, wounding several people.
The Houthi Offensive
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis launched one of their largest military offensives against forces loyal to the Saudi-backed government in Hodeidah and Taiz governorates a week before the fall of Mocha. The Houthis heavily shelled government-held areas before their fighters advanced. On September 9, government forces withdrew from Mocha, the main base of the National Resistance Forces, allowing the Houthis to seize the coastal city and other areas, including al-Khokha. The following day, the Houthis completed their offensive on Yemen's Red Sea coast, essentially taking control of the Bab al-Mandeb strait.
Flight from al-Khokha
Saeed Hassan, 58, initially dismissed reports of government troop withdrawals as a tactical move, but changed his mind after seeing the scale of the retreat. His brother Mohammed, 47, was convinced only after his sons filmed the withdrawal and showed him the video. A missile struck a nearby camp for displaced people, wounding several, and Mohammed's son Shaker narrowly escaped death when another explosion hit the area. The two families fled al-Khokha with only what they could carry, leaving behind Mohammed's clothing merchandise.
1 source
Time · lag behind first