Yemen military announces retaking of Mokha from Houthis amid Red Sea offensive

Adam Lucente

Saudi-backed Yemen government soldiers gather near the Jabal Han front, west of the city of Taiz, following fierce battles earlier in the day as Yemen's Houthis reportedly attempted to seize control of the main route between the inland city of Taiz and the coastal city of Aden, on Oct. 3, 2026. — Ahmad AL-BASHA / AFP via Getty Images

Yemen’s military said it seized a Red Sea port city and a strategic town near the Bab el Mandeb Strait on Monday, a day after the launch of a Saudi-backed offensive against the Iran-backed Houthis.

What happened: The Yemeni military said its forces and affiliates took control of Mokha, located on the Red Sea in southwest Yemen, following clashes with the Houthis. The National Shield Forces, the Southern Giants Brigades and unspecified other groups participated in the offensive, the military said in an announcement.

The Houthis, however, denied the reports of a government advance.

The National Shield Forces are loyal to the Presidential Leadership Council, which leads the Saudi-backed government. The Southern Giants Brigades, based in southern Yemen, previously received support from the United Arab Emirates but now cooperate with the PLC.