Yemen Secures Red Sea Waterway as Saudi-Backed Forces Push Houthis From Bab al-Mandab
Yemen’s internationally recognised government says its forces have secured the strategic Red Sea waterway after launching a major offensive against Houthi fighters.
The Yemeni military said Saudi-backed forces had taken control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key shipping route connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
The announcement came as government forces also claimed to have retaken the important Red Sea port city of Mokha.
The developments are part of a major military campaign called Operation Yemen Dawn, which aims to push the Iran-aligned Houthis out of territory they have captured during the latest escalation in Yemen.
Yemen Says Bab al-Mandab Is Secured
Yemeni military officials said forces from the National Shield, Giants Brigades and Tihama Resistance had secured the Bab al-Mandab area.
The military also said its forces had captured Dhubab airport, located about 45 kilometres south of Mokha.
Government forces reportedly cut the road linking Dhubab with the Bab al-Mandab area and surrounded Houthi fighters in the region.
However, some details remain disputed.
Earlier reports from government sources said forces had only reached the outskirts of Mokha. Other military sources did not immediately confirm that the entire city had been captured.
The Houthis have also denied some reports of government advances. (bbc.com)
Mokha Becomes a Key Battleground
Mokha is strategically important because of its position on Yemen’s Red Sea coast.
Yemeni government forces said they captured the city after fighting with Houthi fighters.
The military said several Houthi fighters were killed or captured, while others fled from the area.
Mokha had been under Houthi control since early September, according to reports.
Taking the city would give the government forces a stronger position along Yemen’s western coastline and improve their ability to protect the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
The waterway is one of the world’s most important maritime passages.
Saudi Arabia Provides Air Support
Saudi Arabia is providing major military support for the Yemeni offensive.
A Saudi-led coalition said its fighter jets were providing round-the-clock air support to government forces.
The coalition said it had destroyed 324 high-value Houthi targets since the start of the operation.
More than 100 Saudi fighter jets have reportedly been involved in the campaign.
The air campaign is designed to support Yemeni forces on the ground while targeting Houthi military positions and weapons facilities. (apnews.com)
Houthis Respond With Missile Attacks
The Houthis have responded to the offensive with missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia.
The group claimed it had targeted Riyadh’s international airport and other Saudi sites.
It also reported attacks against oil facilities, including locations linked to Saudi Aramco.
Saudi Arabia has condemned the attacks and called on international powers to support Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
The latest fighting represents a major escalation after an informal ceasefire that had largely held for several years began to collapse.
Why Bab al-Mandab Matters
The Bab al-Mandab Strait is a narrow waterway at the southern entrance to the Red Sea.
It connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and provides an important route for ships travelling between Europe and Asia.
Oil tankers and commercial vessels use the route to avoid longer journeys around the southern tip of Africa.
The waterway has become even more important because the conflict involving Iran has severely disrupted the Strait of Hormuz.
Any prolonged fighting around Bab al-Mandab could therefore have consequences for global shipping, energy prices and international trade. (reuters.com)
Yemen Launches Wider Offensive
The operation is not limited to the Red Sea coast.
Yemeni government forces have also announced military operations on other fronts, including against Houthi positions around the capital, Sanaa.
The Houthis seized Sanaa in 2014, forcing the internationally recognised government to flee.
Saudi Arabia intervened in Yemen the following year at the head of a coalition supporting the government.
The war later settled into a prolonged stalemate, with the Houthis controlling large parts of northern and western Yemen.
The latest offensive represents a major attempt by the government and its allies to reverse recent Houthi gains.
Humanitarian Concerns Grow
The renewed fighting is also increasing humanitarian concerns in Yemen.
Thousands of people have been killed or injured since the latest escalation began, while tens of thousands have been displaced.
The World Health Organization has warned that the fighting is placing additional pressure on Yemen’s already fragile health system.
The conflict has also disrupted food supplies and access to essential services in several areas.
Battle for Red Sea Control Continues
Yemen’s claim that it has secured the Bab al-Mandab Strait represents a major development in the country’s long-running conflict.
However, the situation remains fluid, and some battlefield claims have not been independently verified.
The Houthis continue to possess significant military capabilities and have demonstrated their ability to launch missiles and drones against Saudi targets.
For now, Saudi-backed Yemeni forces are seeking to consolidate their positions around Bab al-Mandab and Mokha while expanding the wider offensive.
The outcome of the campaign could determine who controls one of the world’s most important shipping routes and could have wider consequences for regional security and global trade.
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