Yemeni forces capture Mocha as Houthis strike Riyadh and Mecca pact activates

Coastal offensive and Bab el-Mandeb

Yemeni government forces, supported by the Saudi-led coalition, launched a ground operation along the western coastline to reclaim territory near the Bab el-Mandeb strait. On Monday, 5 October 2026, government troops reached the outskirts of the Red Sea port city of Mocha, forcing Houthi fighters to retreat inland according to four government sources. Yemen's defense minister confirmed that the coastal city was secured as government forces advanced into key positions along the maritime corridor. In the nearby Dhubab district, which overlooks the strait roughly 30 kilometres from the waterway, army units took control of most of the sector with coalition air support. Yemeni Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani announced that government troops captured the Dhubab airstrip, while military officials reported that fighting continued in and around the adjacent military base.

Contested fronts in Taiz and western Yemen

The military campaign expanded to southern sectors as government troops opened additional fronts in Hayfan, located south of the contested city of Taiz. The city serves as a logistics hub for government forces, controlling the main transit routes to the southern port of Aden, where the internationally recognized government is based. Houthi forces sought to sever the road connecting Taiz to Aden to defend their regional command positions. Despite government reports of territorial gains, Houthi officials denied any retreat on Tuesday, 6 October. Houthi representatives maintained that their forces held all previous positions across the western coastline and near Bab el-Mandeb, where they had advanced during the prior month. Military analysts noted that maintaining control over Taiz is required to prevent Houthi units from threatening southern rear bases.

Retaliatory strikes on Saudi infrastructure

Following the government advances on the western coast, Houthi forces launched cross-border attacks against targets across Saudi Arabia using drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for strikes aimed at transportation infrastructure and energy facilities across the kingdom.

These attacks targeted the international airport in Riyadh.

Saree stated that the Aramco refinery in Rabigh and several southern military airfields were also struck. Loud explosions were heard across Riyadh on Monday evening, with residents near King Khalid International Airport reporting shaking windows. The exchanges followed four years of relative calm, leading the Saudi-led coalition to declare a full-scale military campaign against Houthi forces.

Activation of the Mecca defense pact

In response to the cross-border strikes and coastal battles, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan activated the Mecca mutual defense agreement to protect Saudi territory. On Monday, Ankara and Islamabad announced the dispatch of military forces and defense assets to support the kingdom against aerial attacks. The deployment focuses on reinforcing Saudi air defenses and containing Houthi strikes against critical infrastructure. The Bab el-Mandeb strait, which serves as the primary maritime alternative to the Strait of Hormuz for Middle Eastern energy shipments, remains the focal point of the military confrontation on Yemen's western coast. Commercial shipping through the corridor faces renewed disruption as both sides reinforce their coastal positions.