81 dead in Yemen clashes as Houthis push towards key strait: sources

81 people were killed in clashes between Yemen's Houthis and government forces, as the rebels advance towards a vital Red Sea strait, according to military and medical sources. The fighting erupted on Thursday after the Houthis launched a ground assault, along with rocket and drone attacks, in coastal regions vying for control of the Bab al-Mandeb strait, the narrow entrance to the Red Sea.

The Houthis have repeatedly targeted Saudi ships in the Red Sea, which has become an alternative route for oil exports following Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The rebels are now attempting to secure their grip over the Bab al-Mandeb, aiming to cut off the government-controlled port city of Mokha and advance towards areas near the chokepoint.

Holding elevated positions overlooking government positions near the Red Sea, the coastal town of Khokha, and the city of Taiz, the Houthis could target ships from these elevated sites. At least 24 of the Houthis' fighters are reported to have been killed, while 15 government soldiers perished in the Taiz area. Medical sources in areas under the rebels' control confirm that at least 42 of their fighters were killed.

The Houthis aim to control the hills overlooking Bab al-Mandeb and Mokha before launching an attack on the coast. The government has sent reinforcements to Taiz from Aden in response. With Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab al-Mandeb strait has become a crucial transit route for oil from Saudi Arabia, the world's largest crude exporter.

The narrow waterway connects the Red Sea, via the Suez Canal, to the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean.