Yemeni government forces seize key positions by Bab el-Mandeb

Forces of Yemen's internationally recognized government, backed by Saudi Arabia, have taken key positions near the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The offensive aims to retake territory captured by Iran-backed Houthis in September.

Reuters reports this, citing three military sources and one government source.

Government troops have occupied a significant part of the Dhubab district, located right by Bab el-Mandeb. The advance is supported by large-scale air cover from the Saudi-led coalition.

Yemen's Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani told Reuters that government forces have established "effective control" over the strait. According to him, the military has also captured the Dhubab airfield and cut off remaining Houthi units in the area.

However, the fighting cannot yet be considered fully over. Another government source said clashes continue near a military base in the strait area. Media outlets controlled by the Houthis previously denied reports of the enemy's advance.

The internationally recognized government of Yemen announced a large-scale offensive on October 4. The head of the Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad al-Alimi, said the operation should retake territories that came under Houthi control during their recent offensive.

Associated Press reports that ground forces are being supported by a large contingent of Saudi aircraft. According to the coalition, about 100 warplanes are involved in the operation, striking Houthi positions on the Red Sea coast and in other parts of the country.

Bab el-Mandeb connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and then the Indian Ocean. A significant portion of global maritime trade passes through this route, including oil and petroleum product shipments between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

The strait's importance has grown especially amid disruptions to supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. The expansion of hostilities around Bab el-Mandeb has created a risk of simultaneous disruption of the region's two most important energy routes and has become an additional factor in rising oil prices.

The Houthis seized a number of positions on Yemen's western coast and in the strait area in September. After that, government forces with Saudi support began a counteroffensive, trying to push them away from the sea route.

Meanwhile, fighting continues on other fronts. In particular, the Houthis have advanced near Taiz, one of the country's largest cities. Reuters sources reported that some roads to the city have come under their control, but information about the situation on individual parts of the front remains contradictory.

Based on materials from: Reuters, Associated Press