Yemeni army rosters filled with 'ghost names,' leaving Mocha vulnerable to Houthi takeover – report

Yemeni battalions in Mocha were unprepared for a Houthi takeover on Thursday due to “ghost names” on army rosters, making the force appear stronger than its actual 20% strength, according to a CNN report. These non-existent soldiers received salaries. Blame for the lack of resistance is attributed to Yemeni leaders, the US, and Saudi Arabia. One regional source described the fall as “a Saudi-American f*** up of epic proportions” due to delayed decision-making and a lack of Saudi airstrikes. A senior Yemeni official stated he had warned US Central Command (CENTCOM) repeatedly, but promised air support never arrived. Conversely, an advisor to the US government, Mohammed al-Basha, blamed internal divisions within Yemen's leadership, stating, “There is no political cohesion.”