Yemen Government Forces Claim Victory in Bab el-Mandeb

The internationally recognized government of Yemen announced on Monday that its military launched a successful counteroffensive against the Iran-backed Houthi insurgents, reclaiming crucial positions near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, an essential chokepoint in the Red Sea shipping lanes.

According to Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki, a spokesperson for the Saudi-led military coalition, extensive air support from the alliance reportedly targeted and destroyed 324 “high-value” Houthi assets over the weekend, facilitating the ground forces’ advance.

Yemeni Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani stated that government forces are effectively in control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait after taking the important Dhubab airstrip and isolating Houthi forces in the area. Eryani also mentioned that numerous Houthi fighters in Dhubab are encircled and may surrender soon, while government forces have secured the route to Mokha, a historic port city previously seized by the Houthis in early September.

Col. Majed al-Nuzaili, a representative of Yemen’s armed forces, noted that a “strategic offensive” employing “advanced capabilities” is currently aimed at Sanaa, the Yemeni capital, which has been held by the Houthis since 2014.

Rashad al-Alimi, head of the Yemeni government in exile, indicated that this weekend marked the launch of “Operation Yemen Dawn,” a significant initiative to retake Sanaa and conclude the Houthis’ takeover from over a decade ago. He expressed confidence in his forces’ determination to continue fighting “until the country is liberated from the grip of the terrorist militia.”

In contrast, Houthi media acknowledged the airstrikes on Sanaa but dismissed the government’s claims as “entirely false.”

Meanwhile, in southwestern Yemen, the Houthis claimed to be advancing toward Taiz, the nation’s third-largest city, managing to push government forces back from the district where President Alimi’s residence is located. The Yemeni armed forces confirmed the Houthi progress, indicating that Taiz is effectively surrounded.

Taiz has been under siege since the onset of the Yemeni civil war. Securing the city would represent a significant achievement due to its size, historical importance, and control of the roads leading to Aden, where the Yemeni government relocated following the Houthi takeover of Sanaa.

Additionally, the Houthis declared on Saturday that they continue to conduct attacks on Saudi Arabia, including a combined missile and drone assault on an oil facility in Riyadh owned by the national oil company. While the Saudi government hasn’t confirmed the attack or assessed potential damages, witnesses reported visible flames and smoke near the Aramco site. The Houthis have targeted multiple Aramco facilities amid escalating hostilities, yet the Saudi coalition asserts that most of these attacks have been intercepted.

On Monday, the Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry reported that a Bangladeshi worker at Aramco was killed in the Houthi attack. The ministry conveyed its “deep shock and sorrow” over the incident, condemned the actions of the Houthis, and extended “sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased.”