Yemen's Anti-Houthi Forces Launch Inquest Into Military Collapse on West Coast

An inquest is under way among forces loyal to Yemen's internationally recognized government after what was billed as a decisive assault on the Houthi-held capital, Sanaa, collapsed into a military rout. Instead of advancing, more than 15 brigades were defeated and an estimated 30,000 fighters retreated as the Houthis seized control of the country's entire west coast, including the port city of Mocha, which fell around September 10. The scale and speed of the collapse have raised pointed questions about coordination, readiness and morale among the anti-Houthi coalition.

Some Yemeni politicians allege that billions of dollars were paid to persuade forces defending the west coast to abandon their positions, though those claims have not been independently verified. Nobel peace laureate Tawakkol Karman has called for a formal investigation into the withdrawal. A political activist in Mocha described the pullout from the port city as a betrayal of the fighters and civilians who had defended it.

Anti-Houthi forces and their Saudi-backed allies are now working to reorganize and are attempting to retake high ground near the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a strategically vital passage for global shipping. The collapse marks one of the most significant reversals for the internationally recognized government since the war began, and has intensified pressure on its leadership to explain how the offensive fell apart so quickly.