Report: Houthis Control Yemen’s Red Sea Coast

After an 18-hour battle, the Houthis have taken control of Yemen’s entire coastline along the Red Sea, Al Jazeera correspondent reported.

Government forces had withdrawn from Mocha, and the fighters advanced southward without much resistance, according to the correspondent. The town of Dhubab fell first, then Murad, the only remaining coastal city under government control.

Later on, the Houthi navy advanced out to sea, taking over Mayyun Island in the Bab al-Mandeb strait, and advancing on Zuqar Island, where fighting is ongoing, the correspondent reported.

In a different Al Jazeera update, there were reports that Saudi Arabia carried out airstrikes in two consecutive days on Houthi positions in Mocha and at the Houthi-controlled airport. These reports could not be independently verified.

In the update, the list of Houthi-controlled sites was provided, including Mocha airport, the camp where the general command headquarters are located, the Al-Amari camp, naval bases, Abu Musa and the Ashari camp. On the list was also the Khalid ibn al-Walid base, the largest in the region.

Yemeni forces could launch a counterattack, supported by Saudi airstrikes against Houthi forces, according to the update, pointing to many possible Saudi targets along the coast.

What We Know

• According to the correspondent of Al Jazeera, the Houthis control the full Red Sea coastline of Yemen after an 18-hour battle.
• Mayyun Island was seized, and fighting was also reported on Zuqar Island.
• In a separate update from Al Jazeera, there were reports that the Mocha airport and the general command headquarters camp are controlled by the Houthis among other installations.

What We Don’t Know

• Whether the Saudi airstrikes in Mocha occurred. This remains unverified.
• The exact sequence of the battle. In one update, it is mentioned that forces withdrew from Dhubab just before Mocha fell, but the correspondent says the town of Dhubab fell after Mocha.
• Casualty figures, and whether there will be a counterattack or not.

This is a developing story. Virginia Times will update this news story as more information comes in.