Trump comments on Operation “Yemen Dawn” while government forces announce that they have regained control of Bab al-Mandab

Trump made his statement to reporters as he was leaving the White House heading to an election rally in Nebraska, according to American media. The president did not provide additional details regarding the military operations or the nature of the American role in them.

The statement came as Operation "Yemen Dawn" entered its first day, after President Rashad Al-Alimi announced the launch of the military operation with the aim of "restoring state institutions, liberating the capital, Sana'a, and ending the coup by the terrorist Houthi militias."

Trump's statement was preceded by the position of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who described what is happening in Yemen as a "counterattack" to restore the lands controlled by the Houthis, indicating that "Washington was expecting this to happen."

Rubio added, "Saudi Arabia has been subjected to attacks from the Houthis and is aware of the threat they pose," stressing that the Kingdom has the right to defend itself. He also stressed that "the Yemeni and Saudi governments will not accept Houthi control of Bab al-Mandab," stressing that Washington has "a binding security agreement with Saudi Arabia and we intend to fulfill it."

The Yemeni government forces announced that they had regained control of Bab al-Mandab and achieved broad breakthroughs against the Houthi group on more than one front. The Yemeni army spokesman said that the forces carried out a successful bypass operation to control the strait, and cut the road between Dhubab and Al-Mokha.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that 100 fighter aircraft participated in Operation “Yemen Dawn,” and 324 high-value targets were destroyed with the launch of the operation. Coalition spokesman, Major General Turki al-Maliki, said that the coalition is carrying out “air support to support the Yemeni armed forces on the ground and around the clock,” adding that the air force provides protection for the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Yemeni government forces are launching attacks on the Houthis from three fronts in northern, western and southern Yemen. On the other hand, sources reported that the Houthis targeted the Dhubab District with two ballistic missiles, without causing any casualties.