How a fishing city in Yemen became a second front in the Iran-US confrontation

On September 10, 2026, Houthi forces captured the Yemeni city of Mocha, marking a significant escalation in the conflict and transforming Yemen into a direct front in the Iran-U.S. confrontation. The Houthis launched a broad military operation on September 3, rapidly taking control of six districts, including key strategic locations like Jabal al-Nar and Khalid bin Al-Walid Camp, before seizing Mocha, Hays, and Khokha within 48 hours. A Houthi field commander stated the operation was a "carefully devised strategic plan based on the element of surprise and comprehensive coordination between drone operations and ground advance," aiming to secure Yemen's sovereignty over the Bab el-Mandab Strait. Government forces attributed their withdrawal to "unprecedented firepower and missile strikes" and the loss of air cover. This escalation, which has displaced approximately 76,000 people, is set against the backdrop of increased oil flows through Bab el-Mandab due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, making the region a critical pressure point in the wider geopolitical conflict.