Yemen forces launch operation to retake Bab al-Mandab strait from Houthis

A Yemeni military source said Friday that Saudi-backed government forces launched an operation to retake the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait in Yemen from the Houthis, who seized the coastline last month. The source said fighting was ongoing, while a Saudi diplomat claimed the strait had been captured.

Is Yemen's government retaking Bab al-Mandab?

Government forces, supported by Saudi air power, launched a "major operation" in the strait region, a military source within the government told AFP. The source said "fighting is fierce and advances are limited." A Saudi diplomat later said the strait had been captured, but no evidence was provided.

What have the Saudi ambassador and the Houthis said?

The Saudi ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed al-Jaber, later wrote on X that "Bab al-Mandab has been liberated from the last elements of the Houthi terrorist militia." He did not provide evidence for the claim. The military source had contradicted that account before the statement, saying fighting was still under way.

Houthi-affiliated news agency Saba said on Friday that an attack by government forces south of the strait had been repelled.

Who is fighting over the Bab al-Mandab strait?

The Houthis are fighting the Saudi-backed, internationally recognized Yemeni government. They seized the coastline alongside the crucial trade route during a lightning offensive last month, extending their control over all of Yemen's Red Sea coast.

Government forces have been trying for several days to retake the coastal territory captured by the pro-Iranian fighters.

Why is the Bab al-Mandab strait important?

The chokepoint sits at the southern tip of the Red Sea. It has become vital for Saudi oil exports during the Middle East war, as Iran blockades the Strait of Hormuz.