Yemeni government forces reclaim Dhubab near Bab al‑Mandab Strait
Yemeni government-aligned forces, backed by airpower, have recaptured the strategic Dhubab area near Bab al‑Mandab, a key chokepoint in the Red Sea maritime route.
The Lead
Yemen’s Southern Giants Brigades and Homeland Shield Forces, with aerial support, have retaken the Dhubab area near the vital Bab al‑Mandab Strait from Houthi control, signaling a new phase in the government’s offensive to reclaim strategic coastal territory.
Article Body
Government-aligned forces, including the Southern Giants Brigades and Homeland Shield (also known as Shield of the Nation) forces, supported by airpower, have recaptured the strategic Dhubab area near the Bab al‑Mandab Strait. This advance was achieved through intense combat operations aimed at cutting Houthi supply lines and regaining control of vital coastal terrain. The operation marks a critical shift in momentum after weeks of sustained military pressure on Houthi-held western frontlines.
Multi‑axis offensive across Yemen
The retaking of Dhubab comes amid a broader military campaign directed by President Rashad Mohammed Al‑Alimi, who on 4 October ordered new operations to reclaim state institutions and territory from Houthi control. Yemeni forces, led by Maj. Gen. Majed Abdullah Al‑Nuzaili, reported executing 1,122 precision strikes across frontlines in Saada, Al‑Jawf and Taiz. These strikes reportedly neutralized 1,747 Houthi fighters and destroyed 364 vehicles and supply assets, underscoring the scale and coordinated nature of the offensive.
The capture of Dhubab not only reestablishes government presence at a maritime chokepoint that anchors global shipping lanes but also threatens to isolate remaining Houthi units by severing critical pathways for reinforcement. The operation appears to flow from earlier victories, including government advances in the Kahboub mountains, which provided elevated positions from which to launch this push toward Bab al‑Mandab.
As forces consolidate control over Dhubab, the critical question now is whether they can maintain and expand their hold toward Mokha and the Bab al‑Mandab corridor amid ongoing aerial support and continuing Houthi resistance.