Yemen govt forces claim gains against Houthis near key waterway

RIYADH: Yemeni military sources reported on Saturday that their forces are advancing against Houthi rebels in areas surrounding the Bab al-Mandab strait, but have not yet secured control of the crucial waterway. The government operation to reclaim lost territory was announced last week by the Saudi-backed administration, following the pro-Iranian group's seizure of Yemen's entire western coastline in a swift offensive.

The Houthis affirmed that government forces had attacked in the Bab al-Mandab region, but claimed to have repelled the assault.

Military sources from Yemen's internationally recognized government also stated that Mayun Island, situated in the heart of the strait, remains under Houthi control as fighting persists. In the past 24 hours, clashes in western Yemen, specifically around the strait, resulted in at least 63 casualties, with 35 government forces and 28 Houthis reported killed, according to military sources from both sides.

The conflicting claims from the warring parties have been difficult to independently verify due to the rapid pace of events on the ground and limited access for journalists. On Friday, a Yemeni military source within the government confirmed to AFP that their forces had initiated a major operation in the strait region, backed by air support from Saudi Arabia.

Military spokesman Yahya Saree announced on Telegram that the Houthis had managed to push back Saudi-aligned troop concentrations advancing from Lahj towards Bab al-Mandab.

Since July, Yemen's civil war has seen a resurgence, with the Houthis gaining control of the western coastline. Saudi Arabia leads the international military coalition supporting the Yemeni government in the fight against the Houthis. On Saturday, the coalition announced the destruction of over 130 Houthi targets in a large-scale operation.

The Houthis, through their Al-Masirah TV channel, reported that Saudi strikes had targeted the Bab al-Mandab area. In addition to ground battles, the Houthis have also engaged in attacks on targets within Saudi Arabia using drones and missiles.

Saudi Arabia has retaliated by striking key Houthi targets inside Yemen. Reports emerged on Friday indicating that three people died in attacks on the Saudi capital's international airport the previous day. Houthi media claimed two people were killed in the same airport during the attacks. The renewed fighting in Yemen, one of the world's poorest countries, has displaced over 200,000 civilians, as per UN data.