Yemen government forces withdraw from area near Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Houthis in control
USO•Yemeni government forces said they were withdrawing from an area overlooking the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, leaving the Houthis in control. The forces said they were redeploying toward Aden as fighting intensifies in western Taiz.
1. Forces redeploy toward Aden
Southern Yemeni forces said they were withdrawing from Dhubab Airport and the Bab el-Mandeb area, west of Taiz Governorate, to secure Aden and neighbouring governorates and strengthen front lines. The Houthis control much of northern Yemen and have increased pressure on areas still held by the government.
2. Strategic shipping route
The retreat gives the Houthis greater leverage over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a major route for seaborne shipments, particularly between Asia and Europe via Egypt's Suez Canal. The article says the development could further isolate Gulf oil producers from their main shipping routes.
3. Fighting and humanitarian toll
Government forces launched a campaign in October to recapture coastal areas after the Houthis pushed south in September. Fighting has intensified around Taiz, where the city remains besieged; aid supplies cannot enter, civilians cannot leave, and about half of the 300,000 people displaced by the latest fighting are hosted there.
