‘A f***-up of epic proportions’: Blame game begins after Houthis’ lightning advance down Red Sea coast

Key Points:

• The Iran-backed Houthis rapidly advanced in Yemen, capturing the strategic port city of Mocha and Perim Island near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, gaining significant leverage over key Red Sea shipping routes.
• Yemeni generals pleaded for Saudi air support during the Houthis' offensive, but Saudi Arabia failed to provide air cover, leading to criticism of both Saudi and US leadership for inadequate military coordination and response.
• Internal divisions within Yemen’s anti-Houthi coalition and depleted Yemeni military forces, compounded by the withdrawal of UAE troops and lack of Saudi troop replacements, weakened defenses against the Houthi offensive.
• The capture of Perim Island and control over Bab al-Mandeb Strait increases Iran’s influence over critical maritime chokepoints, potentially pushing global oil prices higher amid escalating US-Iran tensions ahead of US midterm elections.
• Despite over 100 US military advisers supporting Saudi operations in the region, the Houthis’ gains highlight strategic failures by the coalition, raising concerns about the conflict expanding into a broader second front in the Iran-US rivalry.