100 US advisers, no air cover: How Houthis seized Mocha and Perim Island in 36 hours

In a surprising 36-hour span, over 100 US military advisers supporting Saudi Arabia failed to provide crucial air cover as Houthi rebels seized strategic positions. The Houthis overran the port city of Mocha and the island of Perim in the Red Sea, actions that caught Saudi Arabia off guard despite repeated warnings from Yemen's UN-backed government.

Despite months of US backing, the air support promised never materialized. The lack of aerial defense is particularly alarming as Saudi Arabia had formally requested direct US military intervention, but President Donald Trump declined. The absence of air support is significant because it highlights the limitations of US assistance, which primarily consists of intelligence and targeting help.

The failure of the coastal defenses also points to weaknesses within the Yemeni and Saudi forces, including the presence of "ghost" troops on payrolls but not available for combat. Moreover, the Houthis' advance could potentially open additional avenues for attacks against shipping routes, as Perim is situated at the southern entrance to the Bab Al Mandeb Strait, a critical shipping corridor.