
️'A Saudi-American F*-Up': Empty army ranks, missing air cover, and other failures during Ansarallah's lightning Red Sea offensive
CNN reported on 12 September that Ansarallah's rapid capture of the strategic port city of Al-Mokha and, a day later, Perim Island at the entrance to the Bab al-Mandab Strait, has triggered intense blame among Saudi, Yemeni, and US-backed officials. According to a senior Yemeni military source cited by CNN, repeated pleas for Saudi air support were made as Ansarallah advanced, with US Central Command (CENTCOM) reportedly assuring Yemeni forces that Saudi air cover was on its way. "But the air support never came," the source said, adding: "And [Al-Mokha] has now fallen."
According to CNN, multiple regional, Western, and Yemeni sources blamed both Riyadh and Washington for the collapse of the Saudi-backed front. One regional source called it "a Saudi-American f**k up of epic proportions," while another said it represented "a complete failure of political leadership" following delays in Saudi decision-making and the absence of any Saudi airstrikes during the decisive stages of the battle. CNN also reported that US President Donald Trump declined a request from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to strike Ansarallah, with the White House saying Washington remains focused on protecting freedom of navigation while regional partners take the lead.
The report also points to serious structural weaknesses within the Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces. Citing a Western source familiar with the operations, CNN said Ansarallah encountered battalions whose actual fighting strength amounted to only around 20% of their official manpower because payrolls were filled with "ghost" soldiers. The report further says Saudi Arabia failed to replace military positions vacated after the UAE withdrew its remaining forces earlier this year, leaving key bases understaffed and contributing to the rapid collapse of defenses. Another source told CNN: "The Saudis threw the Yemenis under the bus."
CNN concludes that Ansarallah's capture of Al-Mokha and Perim Island significantly strengthens its strategic position along the Red Sea by providing additional launch points for maritime operations and increasing leverage over the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital global shipping route. The report also notes that more than 100 US military personnel have recently been deployed to Saudi Arabia to provide intelligence and targeting support, even as officials and analysts cited by CNN warn that Ansarallah appears to be mobilizing for further advances along Yemen's western coast.
Mike