Yemeni forces reclaim dhubab from houthis near strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait
Yemeni government forces said they had captured key positions near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait ahead of a meeting between Saudi, Pakistani and Turkish officials in Riyadh.
YEMEN — Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces say they have reclaimed large parts of the Dhubab district and captured key positions overlooking the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait as they launch a broader offensive against the Iran-aligned Houthis.
The advance came a day after Yemen's internationally recognised government announced a major military operation aimed at retaking territory controlled by the Houthis. Military and government sources said the offensive was supported by heavy airstrikes from a Saudi-led coalition.
Dhubab is strategically important because it sits near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a major maritime passage connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Control of the area could affect military supply routes and shipping access through the waterway.
Yemeni Forces Push Toward Bab al-Mandeb
Yemen's government said forces from the Homeland Shield Forces and Giants Brigades carried out a large-scale operation against Houthi positions and movements in several parts of Dhubab.
According to the government, its forces captured important positions and disrupted roads and supply routes leading toward Bab al-Mandeb.
Reuters, citing three military sources and a government source, reported that government forces had taken large parts of Dhubab and were moving to establish full control over the district.
The Saudi-led coalition also said it had provided extensive air support for the ground offensive. Saudi officials said hundreds of Houthi targets had been attacked while air protection was provided for the Bab al-Mandeb area.
The Houthis' media outlets have disputed the government forces' claims of territorial gains, describing reports of advances in the area as untrue.
The battlefield claims could not be independently verified.
Offensive Expands Beyond Dhubab
The Yemeni government has indicated that the operation is not limited to the coastal areas near Bab al-Mandeb.
Government forces also announced attacks on several other fronts, including areas around Sanaa, the Houthi-controlled capital. Officials described the campaign as a strategic offensive aimed at regaining territory held by the group.
The fighting has also intensified around Taiz in southwestern Yemen.
According to several Yemeni government sources cited by Reuters, Houthi fighters made advances toward parts of the mountain road leading to Taiz, potentially putting additional pressure on government forces in the area.
However, another government source disputed the claim that the road had been cut, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding rapidly changing battlefield reports.
Bab al-Mandeb Adds Regional Importance
The fighting around Dhubab has broader significance because of the location of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
The waterway is one of the key maritime routes between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Any disruption to traffic through the strait could affect commercial shipping and energy movements between Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
The latest fighting comes amid wider regional tensions and renewed concerns over the security of major maritime routes.
Saudi Arabia has backed Yemen's internationally recognised government for years and has provided military support to forces fighting the Houthis.
The renewed offensive also comes as Saudi, Pakistani and Turkish officials meet in Riyadh for talks under a regional defence agreement. Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is attending the discussions alongside Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and military chief Asim Munir, according to Pakistan's foreign ministry.
The talks are expected to address regional security developments, including the conflict in Yemen.
Yemen's Long War
Yemen's conflict began in its current form in 2014, when the Houthis seized control of Sanaa and forced the internationally recognised government to retreat to the southern city of Aden.
A Saudi-led coalition intervened the following year in an effort to restore the government and push back the Houthis.
Years of fighting produced a prolonged stalemate and a severe humanitarian crisis. A ceasefire reached in 2022 largely froze many front lines, but the truce eventually collapsed as fighting resumed.
The latest government offensive represents a major attempt to reverse recent Houthi gains and regain strategically important territory.
