What changed
Yemeni government forces backed by Saudi Arabia say they have secured the Bab al-Mandab Strait and begun a wider offensive to retake Houthi-held territory. They say Giants Brigades and National Shield forces took Dhubab airport, cut the road toward Mokha and are besieging Houthi fighters there, while a Saudi-led coalition says it has destroyed more than 300 high-value targets. Houthi media denies the advances and says its forces launched missiles and drones at Saudi oil facilities.
Why it matters
Bab al-Mandab is no longer just a contested stretch of coastline in Yemen’s civil war. It is now the clearest test of whether the government’s new offensive can reverse recent Houthi gains around Dhubab, Mokha and Perim Island.
The stakes are already severe. Fighting since 6 August has reportedly killed at least 959 people, injured 5,000 and displaced 197,000. The offensive also follows the collapse of a four-year informal ceasefire, which began unraveling in July after the Houthis announced a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia and attacked Saudi airports, oil facilities and Red Sea tankers.
The immediate picture remains disputed: independent confirmation of control around Dhubab and the wider strait is unavailable, and the duration of the offensive and its effect on international shipping are still unknown. If the government’s claims hold, the campaign would mark a significant reversal along Yemen’s southwest coast; if they do not, the fighting could deepen without changing control of the waterway.
Comments
No comments yet.