Saudi Forces Push Houthis Away From Bab el-Mandeb

Government troops took Dhubab and nearby areas by the strait, with Saudi air support and US intelligence help.

Saudi-backed Yemeni forces have captured several areas near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, including Dhubab, Bab and Hadeid, as part of the government’s offensive against the Houthis. The strategic town of Dhubab lies close to the narrow maritime passage connecting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Its capture gives government forces greater influence over the coastline and could weaken Houthi control over one of the region’s most important shipping corridors.

The offensive is being supported by Saudi air power, while the United States is providing intelligence assistance. The Houthis have responded by claiming attacks on Saudi oil facilities, airports and military installations. Some of those claims could not immediately be independently verified, illustrating the difficulty of establishing battlefield developments in a rapidly changing conflict. What is clear is that the confrontation has expanded significantly from Yemen’s internal political struggle into a regional security crisis involving multiple states.

The Bab el-Mandeb is important because disruption there can force commercial vessels to alter routes, increasing shipping times and costs. The region had already experienced serious disruptions because of Houthi attacks on commercial shipping. Any sustained fighting around the strait could therefore compound existing pressure on global trade and energy markets. For Saudi Arabia, securing the western coastline is also directly connected to protecting its Red Sea infrastructure. For Iran, the Houthis remain an important regional partner. The battle around Bab el-Mandeb is therefore likely to remain strategically important even if front lines elsewhere in Yemen shift.