Yemeni Forces Recapture Key Strait Amid Houthi Conflict
Yemeni government claims success in counterattack near Bab el-Mandeb Strait against Houthi rebels.
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The internationally recognized Yemeni government announced on Monday that its forces successfully launched a counterattack against the Iran-backed Houthi insurgency, recapturing key positions near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial chokepoint along the Red Sea shipping route. This strategic area is vital for global trade and regional security.
Heavy Airpower Supports Ground Advance
Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki, a spokesman for the regional military coalition led by Saudi Arabia, stated that heavy airpower from the alliance destroyed 324 ‘high-value’ Houthi targets over the weekend, facilitating the advance. Yemeni Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani confirmed that the government’s forces are now effectively in control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait after seizing the vital Dhubab airstrip and cutting off Houthi forces in the region.
Strategic Offensive Against Sanaa
Col. Majed al-Nuzaili, a spokesman for Yemen’s armed forces, revealed that a ‘strategic offensive’ using ‘advanced capabilities’ is underway against Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, which was seized by the Houthis in 2014. Rashad al-Alimi, head of the Yemeni government in exile, known as the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), expressed confidence in the offensive, stating, ‘With God’s aid, the will of our people, the valor of our armed forces and all military formations, and the support of our brothers and friends, Yemen will march towards a new dawn of freedom, peace, and stability.’
Houthi Claims and Counterclaims
Houthi media confirmed airstrikes against Sanaa but rejected the government’s other claims as ‘completely untrue.’ In southwestern Yemen, the Houthis claimed progress toward capturing Taiz, the third-largest city, and expelled government forces from the district where President Alimi’s home is located. The Yemeni armed forces confirmed the Houthi advance and noted that Taiz is effectively surrounded.
Regional Impact and Casualties
The Houthis also claimed attacks on Saudi Arabia, including a combined missile and drone strike on an oil facility in Riyadh owned by Saudi Arabia’s national oil company, Aramco. While the Saudi government did not immediately confirm the attack, eyewitnesses reported flames and smoke near the facility. A Bangladeshi national employed by Aramco was killed in the attack, prompting the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry to express ‘deep shock and sorrow’ and offer condolences to the family.
Source: Breitbart
