Yemeni Forces Claim Control of Bab al‑Mandeb Strait
Yemeni pro‑government forces, including the Southern Giants Brigades and Nation’s Shield (Homeland Shield) Forces, claim control over Bab al‑Mandeb and surrounding areas, raising morale amid intensified fighting with the Houthi rebels.
The Lead
Yemeni pro‑government forces have advanced in the Bab al‑Mandeb area, capturing key terrain and boosting morale as they aim to wrest control of the vital shipping strait from the Iran‑backed Houthis.
Article Body
Yemeni pro‑government forces, including the Southern Giants Brigades and the Nation’s Shield (also known as Homeland Shield) Forces, say they have seized control of the strategic Bab al‑Mandeb Strait — along with Dhubab airport and the road linking Dhubab to Mokha — surrounding hundreds of Houthi fighters, some of whom reportedly fled by sea, according to army spokesperson Lt. Col. Majid Abdullah al‑Nuzayli. This marks a significant milestone in “Operation Dawn of Yemen.”
Reuters and other outlets corroborate that government troops captured large parts of Dhubab district, which overlooks Bab al‑Mandeb, with the aid of heavy Saudi‑led coalition air support. The advance forms a foundation for the broader campaign to reverse Houthi gains in the area.
This success builds on weeks of earlier operations in which pro‑government forces consolidated elevated positions in the Kahboub Mountains and surrounding highlands. Control of high ground has long been seen as essential for commanding the approaches to the strait and ensuring operational depth.
Strategic implications
Shifts in control of Bab al‑Mandeb — a chokepoint for global shipping — typically trigger changes in maritime security settings, insurance premiums and routing decisions. Likewise, the Houthi response could include renewed missile or drone attacks targeting shipping or critical infrastructure in the Red Sea region.
With morale reported to be high among government-aligned troops, the immediate question is how Houthi forces will react and whether coordination among naval and air assets in the region will adjust to safeguard commercial traffic and deter counterattacks.
What to watch next: Will Houthis strike back at sea or from the air, and how quickly will insurers and shippers recalibrate risk assessments for transiting Bab al‑Mandeb?