Southern Forces Redeploy from Bab el-Mandeb Amid Houthi Advance
Anti-Houthi southern forces in Yemen have redeployed from the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait to secure Aden, amid advancing Iran-backed Houthi threats and internal coalition divisions.
Southern forces opposing the Houthis in Yemen announced a strategic redeployment from the Dhubab district airport and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait area. The move aims to secure the temporary capital Aden and surrounding provinces amid advancing Iran-backed Houthi forces, ongoing drone attacks, and a tight siege on the city of Taizz.
In an official statement, the Southern Armed Forces explained that the readjustment is designed to strengthen defensive lines near Aden, support the Saudi-led coalition, and break the crippling blockade on Taizz. The forces stressed their ongoing commitment to defending the country and restoring state institutions until the Houthi rebellion is neutralized.
Strategic Importance and Coalition Dynamics
Majed al-Nazili, spokesperson for the pro-Saudi Yemeni government forces, emphasized the critical nature of the front-line operations and praised the contribution of southern units.
"The defense of the temporary capital Aden and the southern provinces, alongside breaking the siege of Taizz, constitutes a national and moral responsibility. Securing Bab el-Mandeb and the western coast remains vital for international maritime shipping, and our operations will continue until all objectives are achieved."
The anti-Houthi camp comprises the internationally recognized government and southern forces aligned with secessionist factions, who briefly reclaimed the Bab el-Mandeb sector last month after previous losses. Despite a unified stance against the insurgency, the alliance continues to grapple with deep internal divisions regarding Yemen’s future political structure, as southern separatists advocate for independence while the central government insists on maintaining a unified state.
