In brief
On Monday, Yemen’s government troops backed by a Saudi‑led coalition launched an offensive near the Bab al‑Mandab Strait, sparking intense clashes with Houthi fighters. At least nine government soldiers were killed as the Houthis struck with missiles and drones, while the Houthi side also reported casualties. Both sides claim victory, underscoring the ongoing struggle for control over the critical maritime chokepoint.
Fierce fighting erupted near the Bab al‑Mandab Strait on Monday when Yemen’s government forces, backed by a Saudi‑led coalition, launched a fresh offensive against Houthi positions overlooking the vital Red Sea shipping route, a government military source told Xinhua. At least nine government soldiers, including a field commander, were killed as the Houthis struck the advancing troops with missiles and drones, the source said. Houthi forces reported casualties in the fighting, though no figure was released, and the group characterized the offensive as a series of “failed attempts” to advance toward Bab al‑Mandab.
Houthi‑run al‑Masirah TV, citing a military source within the group, said Houthi forces had repelled the attacks and inflicted heavy losses on the opposing forces. The Houthi source said the attacking forces made repeated attempts to advance toward Bab al‑Mandab despite mounting losses, claiming that a “large number” of soldiers were killed or wounded.
Both sides claim victory, underscoring the ongoing struggle for control over this critical maritime chokepoint. The fighting marks the latest attempt by government forces, supported by the Saudi‑led coalition, to gain ground around Bab al‑Mandab amid a sharp escalation in recent weeks, with intensifying ground battles and airstrikes inside Yemen accompanied by Houthi missile and drone attacks on government‑held areas and targets inside Saudi Arabia.
Bab al‑Mandab, a narrow strait linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, remains a major global maritime chokepoint and a vital shipping route between Asia and Europe. Yemen has been mired in conflict since late 2014, when the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa and much of northern Yemen, prompting the Saudi‑led coalition to intervene in 2015 in support of the Yemeni government. ■
