In brief
Yemen’s government, backed by a Saudi‑led coalition, pushed into Houthi territory near Bab al‑Mandab on Monday, killing nine soldiers according to an unnamed source. The Houthis counter‑attacked with missiles and drones, claiming they repelled the assault and inflicted heavy losses on the attackers. While both sides proclaim success, the weathered battle underscores the strategic fight over the strait.
On Monday, fierce fighting erupted near the Bab al‑Mandab Strait, a narrow passage linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, as Yemen’s government forces launched a fresh offensive against Houthi positions, according to an unnamed military source quoted by Xinhua. The advance, carried out by units of the Southern Giants Brigades and other government forces, began early in the day and set off intense clashes that were still raging hours later, the source said.
The government source reported that nine government soldiers, including a field commander, were killed as the Houthis struck the advancing troops with missiles and drones. While the exact number of Houthi casualties was not disclosed, the source said the Houthis also suffered losses in the fighting.
From the Houthi perspective, the offensive was described 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.
"Heavy losses" on the opposing forces, according to a Houthi source.
The Houthi source added that the attacking forces made repeated attempts to move toward Bab al‑Mandab despite mounting losses, claiming that a “large number” of soldiers were killed or wounded.
The Bab al‑Mandab Strait, a critical maritime chokepoint, is a major route for global shipping between Asia and Europe. The conflict over control of the strait has intensified in recent weeks, with government forces, supported by the Saudi‑led coalition, engaging in ground battles and airstrikes inside Yemen while the Houthis conduct missile and drone attacks on government‑held areas and targets inside Saudi Arabia.
Both sides claim victory in the latest engagement, underscoring the ongoing struggle for dominance over this strategic passage. The government side emphasizes the loss of nine soldiers as a cost of the push, while the Houthi side stresses their ability to repel the attack and inflict heavy casualties on the attackers.
Yemen has been engulfed 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. The latest clashes near Bab al‑Mandab demonstrate how the war’s front lines (or lack thereof) have shifted to focus increasingly on controlling vital maritime chokepoints that are of global importance.
