Vorstoß der Huthi-Rebellen: Heftige Gefechte nahe Meerenge Bab al-Mandab im Jemen

Intense clashes between Houthi rebels and the internationally recognized government in Yemen continue unabated, according to military sources speaking to Deutsche Presse-Agentur. The fighting has intensified in the western Taiz province, near the Bab al-Mandab strait, following a night of intense clashes. This province is strategically vital for the control of the coast, recently seized by the Houthi rebels.

The government, aided by airstrikes, managed to halt the Houthi advance on two fronts, resulting in dozens of rebel deaths or injuries. A Houthi drone was reportedly shot down near the strait, while the Houthi media claimed Saudi fighter jets attacked in the Taiz and Hadhramaut provinces, attacking infrastructure such as broadcasting towers.

The claims of both sides have not yet been independently verified. Both sides reported that over 125,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in the Taiz region alone, with the government estimating 67,000 have fled due to the fighting. Over 125,000 people have been displaced since the beginning of the month due to the conflict.

The Iran-aligned Houthi militia has, in a lightning offensive last week, brought the entire western coast of Yemen under its control and seized strategically located islands, giving them nearly unrestricted access to the Bab al-Mandab strait. This waterway is the main maritime route between Europe and Asia.