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Yemeni Government Claims Control of Bab al-Mandab Strait
Confirmed
In Short: Fighting has raged in Yemen for weeks, with the Houthis seeking to control the Bab al-Mandab Strait and firing missiles and drones at Saudi cities and infrastructure.
Yemen's Saudi-backed government forces claim to have secured the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a strategic waterway, as part of a major offensive against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The government announced the launch of its offensive on Sunday, with President Rashad al-Alimi vowing to fight until the country is liberated from Houthi control.
Government forces have reportedly advanced rapidly along the coast, seizing key positions in the Dhubab area, the narrowest point of the strait. The Yemeni military spokesman stated that Giants Brigades and National Shield forces were besieging Houthi fighters in the Red Sea coastal town of Dhubab, which overlooks the strategic waterway.
A Saudi-led military coalition supported the offensive with fighter jets, destroying more than 300 'high-value' targets. The coalition's spokesperson, Major General Turki al-Malki, said more than 100 fighter jets had been deployed on Monday to secure 'air protection' of the strait.
The Houthi rebels have denied the government's claims, describing them as 'completely untrue.' They have threatened to attack any aircraft flying in Saudi airspace. The Houthis launched a surprise offensive last month, quickly ousting pro-government forces from areas overlooking the strait.
Fighting has raged in Yemen for weeks, with the Houthis seeking to control the Bab al-Mandab Strait and firing missiles and drones at Saudi cities and infrastructure. The four-year-old informal ceasefire began to unravel in July when the Houthis announced a 'maritime embargo' against Saudi Arabia.
Yemeni government forces have executed 1,122 targets on Houthi militia infrastructure across the Saada, Al-Jawf, and Taiz regions, according to a spokesperson for Yemeni Armed Forces. These operations resulted in neutralizing 1,747 militia elements and destroying or disabling 364 military vehicles, equipment, and supply transport units.
President Rashad al-Alimi called on all armed forces, security forces, and military formations to begin carrying out their assigned missions until the country is liberated from Houthi control. He declared a large-scale operation called 'Dawn of Yemen' to target Houthi capabilities.
Despite the government's claims, fighting continues at a military base near the strait, indicating that the situation remains fluid and contested.
The Bab al-Mandab Strait is a critical waterway connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, and its control is of significant strategic importance for regional powers.
What this adds
The extent of government control over the Bab al-Mandab Strait remains contested, with conflicting reports from different sources.
What's confirmed
- Government forces have advanced rapidly along the coast to seize key positions in the Dhubab area on the narrowest point of the strait.
- The Houthis have denied that government forces made gains, describing such claims as "completely untrue", and they threatened to attack any aircraft flying in Saudi airspace.
- The spokesperson said the Giants Brigades and Nation’s Shield Forces had taken control of the area as part of the operation, named “Dawn of Yemen”.
What's still developing
- The Yemeni government said it had attacked hundreds of targets in Yemen and had begun operations on several other fronts, including the capital Sanaa.
- “Today we are embarking on a decisive phase in the history of our nation,” Al-Alimi said, adding that the state had made “great sacrifices” in choosing the path of peace.
- “With the will of our people, the bravery of our forces, and the support of our brothers, Yemen will move toward a new dawn” vowed Al-Alimi on Monday.