Yemen govt forces say advancing against Houthis around key waterway

Yemen's government forces are reportedly making progress in their offensive against the Houthis around the Bab al-Mandab strait, though they have not yet secured control of the vital waterway, according to AFP. The Yemeni government initiated the counter-offensive last week to reclaim territory lost to the Houthis, who seized control of Yemen's western coastline in a swift offensive.

Hizam al-Asad, a member of the Houthis' political bureau, stated that government forces had attacked in the Bab al-Mandab area but were repelled by Houthi forces, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides. The Houthi-controlled Mayun Island in the center of the strait remains under their control, with the military sources confirming the ongoing fighting.

The conflict has resulted in at least 63 deaths in the last 24 hours, with thirty-five government forces and 28 Houthis killed. The Yemeni military launched a major operation in the strait region on Friday, backed by Saudi-led airpower. The coalition, led by Saudi Arabia, reported destroying over 130 Houthi targets in a large-scale operation.

The Houthis claimed to have targeted the Bab al-Mandab area and reported four Saudi strikes on the international airport in Sanaa, the capital. In retaliation, Saudi Arabia struck targets inside Yemen, including transport hubs, oil facilities, and civilian sites, using drones and missiles. The Houthis have retaliated by attacking Saudi Arabia, targeting transport hubs, oil facilities, and civilian sites.

The renewed fighting has displaced over 200,000 civilians, exacerbating the already dire situation in one of the world's poorest countries.