Yemeni Forces Launch Counteroffensive Near Strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait
Yemeni government forces launched a major counteroffensive near the Bab el-Mandeb strait, recapturing the strategic Dhubab area to push back recent Houthi advances along the Red Sea.
Yemeni government forces launched a major counteroffensive on Monday in the Bab el-Mandeb strait area, seeking to halt recent Houthi advances and regain strategic territory along the Red Sea coast. The Giants Brigades, a key faction within the anti-Houthi alliance, announced they had executed a decisive military operation against Houthi forces in the strategic strait.
Strategic Advances Along the Red Sea
According to Saudi and Yemeni media reports, the Giants Brigades—backed by Homeland Shield forces and receiving aerial cover—successfully recaptured the Dhubab area, which overlooks Bab el-Mandeb. Sources cited by Al Arabiya reported that the forces carried out a flanking maneuver through the Kohabub mountains while simultaneously severing at least part of the Houthi supply routes in the region. Yemen's state television also reported that government forces had retaken Dhubab, though these territorial claims have not yet been independently verified.
Reversing Recent Houthi Gains
The fierce fighting follows a series of significant gains recorded by the Houthis in southwestern Yemen over recent weeks. Reuters reported that the internationally recognized Yemeni government announced a broad military campaign over the weekend aimed at reclaiming all territory currently under Houthi control. Rashad al-Alimi, head of the Presidential Leadership Council, declared that operations would continue until state authority is fully restored.
"The military campaign will persist until the legitimate government restores full control over its sovereign territory and secures vital international shipping lanes," a senior government official stated.
Global Shipping Vulnerabilities
Associated Press also reported on substantial Houthi advances, including the seizure of strategic points along the Red Sea coast and movement toward Taiz. These developments have heightened international concern over Houthi consolidation near Bab el-Mandeb, one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints.
Connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, Bab el-Mandeb serves as a vital artery for trade between Asia and Europe. The expansion of Houthi influence in the area poses a direct threat not only to the Yemeni government and Saudi Arabia, but also to international maritime traffic, energy supplies, and global commodities transport.
