Yemen's Military Forces Advance Against Houthi Rebels
Government forces are making gains against Houthi rebels in areas surrounding the Bab al-Mandab strait, but control of the waterway has not yet been secured.
Yemen's military forces are making gains against Houthi rebels in areas surrounding the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait. This development comes after the Saudi-backed government launched a counter-offensive last week to retake territory seized by the pro-Iranian group during its recent lightning offensive.
According to Yemeni military sources, government forces have been advancing towards the Bab al-Mandab area, but they have not yet secured control of the waterway. The Houthis had previously taken control of a significant portion of Yemen's western coastline in the month-long offensive.
The Saudi-backed government's decision to launch a counter-offensive was prompted by concerns over the Houthi group's rapid gains and their potential impact on regional security. The operation aims to retake all areas held by the Houthis, including those along the Bab al-Mandab strait.
Houthi officials confirmed that government forces had launched an attack in the Bab al-Mandab area but claimed they successfully repelled the assault. Hizam al-Asad, a member of the Houthis' political bureau, said their forces inflicted heavy losses on the Saudi-led coalition and forced them to retreat from the area.
Fighting has continued unabated around the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait in western Yemen, a crucial waterway for international shipping.
According to sources from the military of Yemen's internationally recognised government, Mayun Island - situated at the heart of the strait - remains under Houthi control despite claims by both parties that they have made significant gains in the area.
The situation on the ground is chaotic and access for journalists is severely limited, making it difficult to verify conflicting claims from both sides. As a result, independent confirmation of developments is scarce.
Clashes in the region over the past 24 hours have resulted in heavy losses, with at least 63 people killed according to military sources from both warring parties.
Heavy fighting continues to rage around the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait in Yemen as government forces make gains against Houthi rebels. The Houthis have been firing missiles and drones at targets inside Saudi Arabia, including transport hubs and oil facilities.
The attacks on Saudi territory come despite repeated warnings from Riyadh about the dangers of targeting civilian areas. In one incident on Saturday, a loud explosion was heard at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, prompting an advisory to travelers to contact their airlines before heading to the airport.
Further details emerged about the blast, which is believed to have been caused by a missile fired by Houthi rebels at around 3:00pm local time. At least five people were reportedly injured in the explosion and were receiving treatment in intensive care.
The scale of destruction in Yemen's conflict zone remains dire, with reports emerging of heavy losses on both sides over the past 24 hours, leaving many dead or wounded in the chaos.
Facts based on reporting originally published by France 24 English.
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