Yemen Government Forces Advance on Houthis Near Bab al-Mandab Strait in Most Dangerous Countries

Yemeni government forces backed by Saudi Arabia have launched a counteroffensive against the Houthis around the Bab al-Mandab strait in one of the most dangerous countries after the Iran-aligned group seized Yemen’s western coastline, with both sides reporting advances, repelled attacks and at least 63 deaths in the past day. [3] Yemeni military sources said on Saturday their forces were advancing against the Houthis in areas around the Bab al-Mandab strait but have not yet secured control of the waterway, after the government launched an operation to capture lost territory. [1] The Saudi-backed government last week announced a counter-offensive aimed at retaking all areas held by the Houthis, after the pro-Iran group seized Yemen's entire western coastline in a lightning offensive. [4]

Current Military Situation Around Bab al-Mandab

Yemeni military sources said their forces were advancing against the Houthis in areas around the Bab al-Mandab strait but had not yet secured control of the waterway. [1] Sources from the military of Yemen's internationally recognised government also said Mayun Island remained in Houthi hands as fighting continued. [3] Clashes in western Yemen, specifically around the strait, had killed at least 63 people in the past 24 hours, military sources from both sides told AFP on Saturday. [4] Thirty-five members of government forces had been killed, while 28 Houthis had died, the sources said. [3] Claims by the warring parties have been impossible to independently verify, with the situation moving fast on the ground and access for journalists difficult. [4]

Government Counteroffensive Announcement

The Saudi-backed government of Yemen last week announced a counteroffensive aimed at retaking all areas held by the Houthis after the pro-Iran group seized Yemen’s entire western coastline in a lightning offensive. [1] On Friday a Yemeni military source told reporters that its forces had launched a “major operation” in the strait region, supported by air power from Saudi Arabia. [1] The government is conducting offensives against the Houthis, backed by Saudi air power. [4] Yemeni military sources said on Saturday their forces were advancing against the Houthis in areas around the Bab al-Mandab strait but have not yet secured control of the waterway, after the government launched an operation to capture lost territory. [3]

US President Donald Trump disembarks Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. — Source: middleeasteye

Houthi Responses and Claims

The Houthis confirmed that government forces had attacked in the Bab al-Mandab area, but they said they had repelled the assault. [1] “Saudi-led forces attempted to advance from the Ras al-Ara area in Lahj governorate towards the area south of Bab al-Mandab,” said Hizam al-Asad, a member of the Houthis’ political bureau. [1] “However, our forces repelled them outside the Bab al-Mandab zone, inflicting heavy losses in personnel and equipment, and forcing the survivors to retreat,” he added. [3] “Our forces maintain control over Bab al-Mandab, Mayun Island, and the remaining areas along the country's western coast,” he said. [3] Military spokesman Yahya Saree said on Telegram that the Houthis had succeeded in “driving back the Saudi-aligned troop concentrations that attempted to advance from the direction of Lahj towards Bab al-Mandeb”. [4]

Saudi-led Coalition Airstrikes

Early on Saturday, the coalition said it had destroyed more than 130 Houthi targets in a “large-scale operation”. [3] The Houthis' Al-Masirah TV channel reported on Saturday that enemy strikes had targeted the Bab al-Mandab area. [4] It also reported four Saudi strikes on the capital Sanaa's international airport on Saturday, a day after saying two were killed in a Saudi strike on the airport. [3] Saudi Arabia leads an international military coalition helping the Yemeni government fight the Houthis. [4] After four years of relative calm, Yemen's civil war reignited in July before the Houthi gains on Yemen's western coastline. [4]

Yemeni government forces advance against Houthis near the Bab al-Mandab strait. — Source: france24

Broader Regional Impact in Most Dangerous Countries

In addition to battling Yemeni government forces on the ground, the Houthis have also been firing on targets inside Saudi Arabia, attacking transport hubs, oil facilities and other civilian sites with drones and missiles. [3] A loud blast was heard at the airport in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Saturday, according to an eyewitness and people briefed on the matter. [3] After initial reports of the explosion, a diplomatic source told AFP that it was the result of a missile fired by Houthis at the Riyadh airport at around 3:00pm local time. [3] “Houthis are attacking civilian targets. Riyadh airport is a civilian target,” said the source. [3] Riyadh said Friday that attacks on the Saudi capital's international airport had killed three people the previous day. [4] At least five people were reportedly in intensive care after being wounded at Riyadh airport, a hospital source told AFP. [3] Saudi Arabia has been retaliating with strikes on key Houthi targets inside Yemen. [4] US President Donald Trump on Friday left open the possibility of further military action against Iran as fighting intensifies in Yemen and Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia have led to a renewed offensive. [2]

Humanitarian Consequences

Ordinary civilians have been paying the price for the renewed fighting in one of the world's poorest countries, with more than 200,000 people displaced since July, according to UN data. [4] Claims by the warring parties have been impossible to independently verify, with the situation moving fast on the ground and access for journalists difficult. [3] Clashes in western Yemen, specifically around the strait, had killed at least 63 people in the past 24 hours, military sources from both sides told AFP on Saturday. [4]

What to watch next: The Saudi-led coalition may continue large-scale operations against Houthi targets while the Houthis maintain control claims over Bab al-Mandab and Mayun Island amid ongoing ground clashes and strikes on Saudi airports.