Southern Yemeni forces withdraw from area near Bab Al Mandab
Yemeni forces fighting for the internationally recognised government said on Sunday they were withdrawing from an area overlooking the Bab Al Mandeb strait, leaving the Iran-aligned Houthis in control of territory overlooking the strategic waterway. Last month, Yemeni government forces said they had recaptured, the Dhubab area overlooking the sea lane, and the strategic port city of Mokha. The…
Yemeni government forces announced on Sunday they are withdrawing from an area near Bab Al Mandab, a strategic waterway, allowing Iran-aligned Houthis to take control of the territory. Earlier this month, the government had recaptured Dhubab and the port city of Mokha. This withdrawal grants the Houthis increased influence over the maritime chokepoint, potentially worsening global shipping conditions as Iran continues to disrupt traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Yemeni Armed Forces stated the redeployment aimed to secure the capital, Aden, neighboring governorates, strengthen front lines, and address threats. This move also supports efforts to end the Houthi siege on Taiz city and alleviate the suffering of its residents, who are facing starvation and a blockade. The redeployment will be carried out with Saudi-led coalition backing.
Following the collapse of a UN-brokered truce in 2022, government forces launched a campaign to reclaim strategic coastal areas from the Houthis, who had advanced towards the Bab Al Mandab in September. The intensified fighting, part of a broader US-Israeli war against Iran, has disrupted flights and oil supplies as the Houthis continue to target Saudi Arabia, a key US ally.
Yemen has been experiencing one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with the city of Taiz, hosting half of the 300,000 internally displaced persons, remaining besieged due to ongoing clashes.
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