Saudi-Backed Yemeni Forces Withdraw From Bab el Mandeb, Leaving Houthis in Control
By The Media Line Staff
Saudi-backed Yemeni forces announced their withdrawal from the Bab el Mandeb Strait, leaving the Houthis in control of the strategic waterway and raising concerns about shipping through one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes.
The Southern Armed Forces, the main military force supporting Yemen’s government in the south, said the withdrawal was intended to reinforce defenses around Aden, where the internationally backed government has operated since the Houthis captured Sanaa in 2015.
“The Southern Armed Forces announce the implementation of a redeployment operation for its forces from Dhubab Airport and the Bab el Mandeb area, west of Taiz Governorate,” the military said in a statement.
“This step is taken based on the priority of securing the capital, Aden, and the neighboring governorates, as well as strengthening the front lines and addressing existing threats.”
The announcement follows a Saudi-backed offensive last month that recaptured several strategic positions near the strait, including Dhubab. Government forces, however, were unable to remove the Houthis entirely from the surrounding area or regain control of Mokha, farther along the coast.
The Bab el Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea to maritime routes linking Asia and Europe through Egypt’s Suez Canal. It is a major passage for commercial vessels transporting goods and commodities, making control of the surrounding coastline important to international shipping.
Yemen’s civil war, which had remained largely dormant since 2022, resumed this summer as fighting spread from the wider regional conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
The United States and Israel launched their military campaign against Iran in February, and subsequent developments in Yemen have strengthened Tehran’s regional position.
In recent months, the Houthis have made territorial gains while carrying out attacks against Saudi Arabia and commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
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