Yemeni government forces report capture of areas in Bab al-Mandab

After the start of a major offensive against the Houthi militia, the armed forces of the internationally recognized government of Yemen report the capture of strategically important areas on the Bab al-Mandab Strait. A military spokesman told the German Press Agency that units had, among other things, taken control of the airport in the coastal town of Dhubab in the southwest of the country.

The Houthi rebel-controlled Saba news agency denied the reports. She spoke of an attempt to cover up failures and repeated defeats. An independent verification of all information is currently not possible.

Due to its location, the town of Dhubab acts as a control point for the southern access to the Red Sea. The surrounding mountain ranges and coastal sections enable the monitoring of civilian shipping traffic as well as attacks with drones and missiles. The region is therefore hotly contested between Houthi rebels and the troops of the recognized government.

According to Rashad al-Alimi, chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, the aim of the military operation launched on Sunday is to completely recapture all areas occupied by the Houthi militia.

The government troops are supported by Saudi Arabia. The Houthi militia is an ally of Iran. The rival camps in Yemen have been engaged in heavy fighting for weeks. In September, the Houthi militia took control of Yemen's entire Red Sea coast in a lightning offensive, thereby gaining access to the important Bab al-Mandab strait.