In brief
Yemen’s southern government brigades launched a new push at the Bab al‑Mandab Strait on Monday, according to a government military source interviewled by Xinhua. Nine government soldiers, including a field commander, were killed as Houthi forces repelled the attack and inflicted losses of their own. Both sides, however, claim victory amid the ongoing battle for control of the critical maritime chokepoint.
Yemen’s southern government forces, backed by a Saudi‑led coalition, launched a fresh offensive near the Bab al‑Mandab Strait on Monday, sparking intense clashes with Houthi fighters, Xinhua reported.
A government military source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said units of the Southern Giants Brigades and other government forces began the advance early Monday, setting off intense clashes that were still raging hours later.
According to the source, at least nine government soldiers, including a field commander, were killed as the Houthis struck the advancing troops with missiles and drones. The source added that the Houthis also suffered casualties in the fighting, without giving a figure.
The Houthi‑run al‑Masirah TV, citing a military source within the group, said Houthi forces had repelled the attacks and inflicted “heavy losses” on the opposing forces. The Houthi source said the attacking forces made repeated attempts to advance toward Bab al‑Mandab, claiming a “large number” of soldiers were killed or wounded.
Bab al‑Mandab, a narrow strait linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, is a major global maritime chokepoint and a vital shipping route between Asia and Europe.
Broader Conflict Context
The fighting marks the latest attempt by government forces, supported by the Saudi‑led coalition, to gain ground around Bab al‑Mandab amid a sharp escalation in recent weeks, with intensifying ground battles and airstrikes inside Yemen accompanied by Houthi missile and drone attacks on government‑held areas and targets inside Saudi Arabia.
Yemen has been mired in conflict since late 2014, when the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa and much of northern Yemen, prompting the Saudi‑led coalition to intervene in 2015 in support of the Yemeni government. The conflict has since escalated into a complex multi‑faction war that involves ground battles, airstrikes, missile and drone attacks, and a humanitarian crisis affecting millions of Yemenis.
In the current engagement, both sides have pronounced victory, underscoring the ongoing struggle for control over this critical maritime chokepoint, Xinhua noted. Further details on casualties, troop movements, and potential diplomatic responses are awaited from both sides as the situation develops.
