Saudi coalition forces, with air support from the coalition, have successfully regained several key areas around the Bab al-Mandab Strait from Houthi rebels. Yemeni officials announced that internationally recognized government forces have recaptured the important city of Dhubab, located just north of the strait, and have also taken control of the cities of Bab and Hudaydah.
Military operation under air cover
This operation is part of a large offensive that began on Monday morning with air support from the Saudi military coalition, aimed at regaining all lands under Houthi control. While this attack has commenced, Houthi rebels have also reported seizing new areas in southwestern Yemen and have taken control of the important city of Turbah, which is considered a blow to Saudi-backed forces.
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The spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, Brigadier General Turki al-Maliki, announced that 100 fighter jets are providing support to the Yemeni government forces. He also added that the coalition has secured "air protection" for the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait and has destroyed hundreds of Houthi targets during this campaign.
Consequences of the conflicts
Marco Rubio, an American senator, told reporters that the Saudi-backed government in Yemen is expected to strike the rebels to regain lost territories. He also noted that Saudi Arabia and the United States have a defense agreement, but did not provide further details. He added that the Yemeni government has lost part of its territory due to Houthi attacks and that Saudi Arabia has the right to defend itself.
This new attack represents an ambitious goal for the beleaguered Yemeni government, which has recently lost parts of the Red Sea coast and areas around the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Despite military support from Saudi Arabia, the Yemeni government faces serious challenges in regaining these lands. The Houthis have also heavily attacked Saudi Arabia in recent weeks and announced yesterday that they have targeted oil infrastructure in the capital again.
This statement came just hours after the Houthis cut off a vital supply route connecting the besieged city of Taiz to the temporary capital of the government, Aden. Fighting in this area continues fiercely, and military sources reported that the Houthis have taken control of the Al-Safiya area and cut off the main road.
Fighting around the Taiz province claimed the lives of more than 70 people yesterday. Yemeni military sources reported that 34 government forces were killed, with 20 of them losing their lives at the border of Taiz and Lahij provinces. Meanwhile, Houthi military sources reported that 39 of their forces were killed in recent clashes.
The city of Taiz remains under the control of government forces but is heavily besieged from the north, east, and west by Houthi forces and is considered one of the main fronts in the Yemeni civil war. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree announced that the group has fired ballistic missiles and drones at Aramco's oil facilities in Riyadh and the Khurais area in the east, causing widespread fires.
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