Yemeni govt regains control of Bab el-Mandeb

Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces have swiftly advanced to reclaim control of coastal areas around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, including the city of Mocha, according to the Yemeni government. The internationally recognized government, supported by heavy Saudi air strikes, reached the outskirts of Mocha on Monday night, with the Houthis retreating into the highlands, according to four government sources.

The Defence Ministry claimed the city had fallen, while the government forces had already secured key positions, including an airstrip in the Dhubab district at the mouth of the strait. This strategic oil route was seized by the Houthis last month, causing concern among energy markets. However, the extent of the government's gains could not be independently verified by Reuters.

The Houthis, who have controlled several populous areas in Yemen since 2014, dismissed the government's claims as baseless. Despite the recapture of the coastal area, the Houthis could still pose a threat by launching drone attacks from positions further up the coast and inland. Meanwhile, the Houthis made significant advances near the city of Taiz, gaining control of a mountain road, potentially leaving government forces there besieged.

The group also threatened to attack air traffic in Saudi airspace. The renewed fighting has exacerbated Yemen's humanitarian crisis, with the UN migration agency reporting that 184,000 people were displaced since the war resumed.