Yemen’s anti-Houthi forces have begun an inquest into the sudden collapse of a campaign against the Houthis, after more than 15 brigades were defeated and the country’s west coast fell to Houthi control.
The retreat has prompted competing explanations, including poor coordination, weak communications, divisions among allied forces and unproven claims by some Yemeni politicians that billions of dollars were offered to persuade defenders to abandon their positions.
What happened on the western coast
The Houthis captured the headquarters of the National Resistance Forces at Jabal al-Nar, or Fire Mountain, hours before taking the port city of Mocha. The headquarters was supposed to contain six brigades and weaponry supplied by Saudi Arabia.
Abdu Mukabib, a political activist in Mocha, said the withdrawal took place during the early hours of 10 September and that fewer than 20 Houthi fighters entered the city at about 6am. His account described two military vehicles and four motorcycles. The National Resistance Forces said they had pulled back after 500 of their soldiers were killed and to avoid encirclement. Read the context: Houthi forces say they have seized Mocha as Yemen fighting widens.
Why the defeat is being disputed
Some politicians, including the governor of Hadramaut, have alleged that money was offered to persuade west-coast forces to leave. The claim did not identify who allegedly provided the payment, and the allegation has not been established. Others have linked the debate to previous ties between the United Arab Emirates and Tareq Saleh’s National Resistance Forces; the UAE left Yemen in January but remains hostile to Saudi Arabia’s role in forcing its departure and banning the separatist Southern Transitional Council.
Saleh’s forces have described the retreat as a necessary tactical decision. Other explanations under review include slow decision-making caused by poor command-and-control communications, Houthi intelligence operations and divisions among anti-Houthi forces, including the influence of Saudi commanders.
The Houthis have also developed a more capable military structure, using drones against maritime traffic and maintaining ballistic-missile and weapons-production capabilities. Iranian officials say the Houthis have their own unified command and priorities rather than being a simple proxy force.
What the review could change
The Yemeni government and Saudi forces are reviewing the defeat as they consider whether Houthi gains can be reversed. Anti-Houthi forces are being reorganised around an effort to capture the Kahbob mountains, a strategic position intended to restrict Houthi movement toward the Bab al-Mandab strait.
Tareq Saleh is forming the Tihami Resistance, described as independent of Yemen’s national forces. A limited force from the Giants Brigades reportedly repelled a Houthi advance and retook positions before Mocha fell, but the withdrawal of neighbouring National Resistance units weakened that effort. Related coverage: Yemen’s government forces open counteroffensive against Houthis.
Professor Abdulwahab al-Awaj of Taiz University said restoring the initiative would require more than reinforcements: he called for a unified operational structure, tighter security and renewed trust among the allied forces.
What happens next
The inquest and the government and Saudi military reviews are continuing alongside efforts to reorganise anti-Houthi forces and pursue the Kahbob mountains operation.
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