Houthis redeploy forces after 'heavy losses' in Yemen kill box

Yemeni security officials report that Houthi fighters have been forced to redeploy after enduring "heavy losses" from strikes by pro-government forces. The Iran-backed rebels admitted to being targeted with dozens of air strikes in Al Bayda, Al Jawf, Hajjah, Lahij, Saada, and Taiz on Saturday and Sunday. Saudi Arabia leads the coalition intervening in Yemen, which has not confirmed carrying out attacks but has been repeatedly hit by the Houthi group.

The Houthis aim to minimize their visible human presence to avoid further air strikes, as the area is an open coastal desert. The redeployment limits their access to the strategic Bab Al Mandeb, a critical chokepoint. Mohammed Al Basha, founder of the US-based risk advisory firm Basha Report, stated with high confidence that Houthi forces are no longer able to control the Bab Al Mandeb effectively.

The attacks targeted areas within a "kill box" revealed by government forces on Saturday, with videos released by Yemen's military showing warplanes attacking Houthi militia personnel and material in Dhubab and Mokha. Col Majed Al Nuzaili, a spokesman for the armed forces, advised civilians to avoid certain roads and routes due to ongoing military operations.

Since escalations began, displacement in Yemen has surpassed 85,000, with over 2,000 people crossing into Djibouti to escape the fighting. In Taiz, 9,280 households, or around 56,000 people, have been displaced. The surge in fighting during the US-Iran tit-for-tat attacks on Gulf shipping could benefit Iran, reducing supplies through another major transit corridor and increasing oil prices.

The Houthi takeover of Perim and Zuqar islands, vital for maritime security, puts them at the center of the rebel offensive and the wider US-Iran war.