Yemeni army rosters filled with 'ghost names,' leaving Mocha vulnerable to Houthi takeover - report
Blame for the apparent lack of military resistance to the Houthi takeover has been split between Yemeni leaders, the United States, and Saudi Arabia, according to a Saturday CNN report.
Yemeni army battalions in the port city of Mocha appeared unprepared to resist a takeover by Iranian-backed Houthis on Thursday, according to a CNN report. The source of the report claimed that much of the force's roster consisted of "ghost names," soldiers whose existence could not be substantiated. These non-existent soldiers received salaries, making the army seem stronger than it actually was. The actual strength of the Yemeni army was estimated to be around 20% of its apparent size.
The report attributed blame for the apparent lack of military resistance to various parties, including Yemeni leaders, the United States, and Saudi Arabia. A Saudi-American official described the fall of Mocha as "a Saudi-American f*** up of epic proportions," attributing the failure to delayed decision-making by both Washington and Riyadh.
The Saudi military had been on high alert due to the possibility of a Houthi advance weeks prior, but the report stated that they failed to prepare for the attack. Key air command personnel responsible for directing combat aircraft were reportedly not deployed. Additionally, a senior Yemeni official reportedly warned US Central Command (CENTCOM) repeatedly about the critical situation, but the air support promised by CENTCOM did not materialize.
CENTCOM chief Adm. Brad Cooper was in Saudi Arabia for coordination meetings on the day of the Houthi attack, but the report could not confirm whether this visit occurred. Some attribute the failure to internal divisions among Yemen's leadership, with DC-based Mohammed al-Basha, a former advisor to the US government on the Arabian Peninsula, blaming the lack of political cohesion in the anti-Houthi coalition.
According to al-Basha, there was no united command and control in Yemen, and everyone had been aware of the Houthis' push towards the west coast. The report also suggested that the Houthis continued to mobilize their forces, potentially moving further east within Yemen.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
