This setback will likely be more detrimental to the saudi-backed PLC government than the coastline loss.

https://www.newarab.com/news/houthis-cut-vital-aden-taiz-road-yemen

https://x.com/MenchOsint/status/2104491013687423366

https://x.com/WelcomeTheGulag/status/2104417443150287170

https://x.com/MenchOsint/status/2104221373816000637

The PLC leader, Rashad Al-Alimi urged people to enlist in the Saudi-backed army and pledged to give amnesty to Houthi fighters.

https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2026/9/26/why-has-the-yemen-government-called-for-a-general-mobilisation

This was his first speech since the PLC and its allied militias retreated from the Bab El-Mandab west coast.

This was also the first time the regime offered such amnesties, as it had never been at a weaker military position.

https://www.twz.com/air/houthis-claim-saudi-f-15-kill-over-yemen

Independent analysts haven't confirmed the shoot down yet.

https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/yemens-houthi-rebels-claim-shooting-down-saudi-f-15-jet-fighter-237ecc7d

2 familiar people told Wall Street Journal that it actually happened.

https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/09/16/houthis-claim-shot-down-saudi-f15-fighter-jet/

Saudi Arabia has so far released no statement.

The Houthis attempted multiples waves of onslaughts west of Marib. PLC forces successfully repelled assaults from the south. They also prevented a Houthi entrance into the city from the north (south of Asdas), after losing few bases there.

https://x.com/MidnightVision5/status/2098652977997422934?s=20

https://x.com/GlobeWarReport/status/2098707682626781316?s=20

https://x.com/Attack_Alarm1/status/2099091264834572595?s=20

https://x.com/WarHunter2222/status/2098677194683724273?s=20

https://x.com/wogoa1/status/2098657314181874045?s=20

It demonstrates one of the reasons why the PLC is withrawing so unpredictably.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/saudi-arabia-mbs-trump-houthis-yemen/

https://x.com/HormuzReport/status/2098073266091118782

https://x.com/squatsons/status/2098049363608285540

https://x.com/CKMapss/status/2098213549466059209

https://x.com/war_cube/status/2098186209247858918

https://www.dw.com/en/yemen-houthis-take-control-of-strategic-red-sea-port-city/a-79220628

https://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/-saudi-aircraft-carry-out-40-airstrikes-in-yemen-report/4052823

https://orinocotribune.com/yemen-vows-severe-retaliation-after-54-saudi-airstrikes-in-12-hours/

The strategic island cluster in the red sea was controlled by the Houthis before the 2015 Saudi government offensives.

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-908223

https://english.news.cn/20260911/8139471317d64ecba19e1c49c540ebd6/c.html

Now, after the Houthis have retaken the Islands, military experts and economists have expressed concern over Houthi abilities to target Bab El-Mandab strait.

https://www.ynetnews.com/article/by11qq8efme

https://www.commonspace.eu/gulf-crisis/houthis-seize-strategic-port-city-mokha

https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/576396/World/Region/Houthis-seize-Mokha-city-on-Red-Sea-Yemen-military.aspx