Saudi-led coalition launches Yemen operation against Houthis

Yemeni government forces, supported by Saudi Arabia, have made significant strides in their campaign against Houthi rebels near the Bab el-Mandeb strait, according to a Reuters report on October 5. Military and government sources assert that Saudi-backed forces captured a substantial portion of the Dubab region, a critical access point to the Bab el-Mandeb strait.

This operation, backed by heavy air support from a coalition led by Riyadh, is aimed at curbing the Houthi advance and securing control over the strategic waterway.

The Yemeni government, in an effort to consolidate its gains, is currently striving to fully establish control over the area. Concurrently, Houthi-linked media outlets have vehemently denied these reports of government success, branding them "completely false." Meanwhile, Houthi forces reportedly advanced on September 29 toward the city of Taiz via a mountain road, encircling government troops in the process.

The conflict in Yemen, a protracted civil war exacerbated by Iran's backing of the Houthi rebels, is taking place amidst this volatile environment. The Houthis, seeking to expand their influence over the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a crucial global maritime route, have frequently launched missile and drone assaults on Saudi Arabia. In response, Saudi Arabia has provided Yemeni government forces with extensive support, including weapons, training, and aerial assistance.

Riyadh has claimed to have carried out strikes on numerous targets in Yemen to bolster the ground offensive near the strait.

On September 10, Reuters reported, following consultations with Yemeni officials, that the Houthis had seized control of Mocha, a strategic port city on the Red Sea coast, driving out government forces from the city and gaining control over a vital port. This event was deemed a significant setback for Saudi Arabia and its allies in Yemen.

Prior to this, on September 11, Axios quoted two U.S. officials as stating that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had called President Donald Trump twice, urging him to intervene against the Yemeni Houthis as they approached Mocha. Despite these appeals, the Trump administration opted against direct military intervention at the time.