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…
On Sunday, Yemeni government forces announced they were withdrawing from an area overlooking the Bab Al Mandeb strait, ceding control to Iran-aligned Houthi rebels. Last month, the government had reclaimed the Dhubab area and the port city of Mokha, both crucial to maritime traffic. The Southern Armed Forces cited the need to secure Yemen's capital, Aden, neighboring governorates, and bolster defenses against threats as reasons for the redeployment.
This move also aims to end the Houthi siege on Taiz city, alleviate civilian suffering, and address the blockade and starvation policies imposed by the rebels. The redeployment would be supported by the Saudi-led coalition backing the government. The withdrawal increases the Houthi leverage over the Bab Al Mandeb, a critical maritime chokepoint, potentially intensifying pressure on global shipping.
The escalation in fighting follows the collapse of a UN-brokered truce in 2022, adding another volatile front to the US-Israeli war against Iran. The ongoing conflict in Yemen has created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with Taiz, home to half a million displaced people, continuing to endure siege conditions.
Written by urgent.news from The National UAE's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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