Yemen official vows forces will regroup and return to Red Sea coast

A senior member of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council has said government forces will return to the country's west coast to confront Houthi rebels, after the group captured a stretch of Red Sea territory in a rapid offensive.

Sultan al-Arada, who also serves as governor of the central province of Marib, made the remarks in a televised interview aired late Saturday. He described the collapse of government forces in the port city of Mokha and other western coastal areas as painful and regrettable.

"We are sorry and pained by what happened on the coast," al-Arada said, adding that the events had causes that would be discussed with the parties concerned. He characterised the loss of territory as part of the nature of war, which he said brings both advances and retreats, defeats and victories.

Al-Arada said the forces that withdrew or moved from one position to another are now regrouping and will return to the battle in one form or another.

The Houthi rebels seized Mokha and the key Mayun Island in the Bab el-Mandeb strait last week. The strait is a vital maritime chokepoint, and the rebel advance raised the prospect of further disruption to international shipping in the region.

The gains marked a significant setback for Yemen's internationally recognised government and its backer, Saudi Arabia, which have been fighting the Houthis for 12 years.