Yemeni government forces drive Houthis from Bab el-Mandeb Strait
USO•Yemeni government forces said they retook Mokha and advanced around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, pushing Houthis from most areas seized last month. The extent of the gains could not be independently verified, and the Houthis called the government’s claims baseless.
1. Government forces advance
Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces advanced along the coast toward the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Monday, backed by Saudi air strikes. The Defence Ministry said Mokha had fallen, and government sources said forces had taken key positions, including an airstrip in the Dhubab district.
2. Fighting continues near Taiz
The Houthis made advances near Taiz, where government military sources said sections of a mountain road had been seized, leaving government forces surrounded. One government source denied the road had been cut.
3. Energy route at risk
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a key oil route, and fighting there has threatened shipping between the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean. The UN migration agency said 184,000 people had been displaced since the war resumed.
