Shea Levin — text status

Iran-backed Houthi forces have seized the strategic Yemeni port city of Al-Mocha on the Red Sea after Saudi-backed government forces retreated, bringing the Houthis closer to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and strengthening their ability to threaten shipping through the critical waterway. i24 News reports that apparent advances by Saudi-backed forces in northern and central desert areas came as the Houthis repositioned and gave up open territory while moving to capture the more strategically important western coastline. A former Yemeni military official described the situation as “really bad,” saying government forces’ boasting about their advances had served as cover for their losses along the coa