Yemen Government Claims to Have 'Secured' Red Sea Waterway
Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces announced they have secured the Bab al-Mandab Strait, though conflicting reports emerged regarding the capture of Mokha city.
Yemeni government forces, supported by Saudi Arabia, have announced they "secured" the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea. This declaration comes at the outset of a major offensive against the Iran-backed Houthi movement. The Yemeni military initially claimed that National Shield, Giants Brigades, and Tihama Resistance forces had captured the Red Sea city of Mokha with the aid of Saudi airstrikes. However, unnamed government and military sources provided conflicting reports, suggesting forces had only reached the city's outskirts.
Highlights
- Yemeni government forces, backed by Saudi Arabia, claim to have secured the Bab al-Mandab Strait in the Red Sea.
- Conflicting reports exist regarding the capture of Mokha city, with some sources stating it was taken and others indicating forces are on the outskirts.
- The Houthis claimed to have struck Riyadh's international airport in Saudi Arabia.
- The Saudi-led coalition reported destroying 324 "high-value" targets since the offensive began.
- Turkey and Pakistan, allies of Saudi Arabia, agreed to deploy military forces under their "Mecca defense pact."
Details
Yemeni military officials also stated that their forces seized Dhubab military airfield, 45 km (27 miles) south of Mokha, and were besieging Houthi fighters in the nearby town. Houthi-run media, however, denied any advances in Dhubab. The government indicated that operations had also commenced on other fronts, including the capital Sana'a, which fell to the Houthis at the start of the civil war.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the Houthi cross-border attacks on Saudi Arabia and expressed deep concern over the sharp escalation in fighting. The civil war in Yemen, which began in 2014 and escalated in 2015 with the intervention of a Saudi-led coalition, has seen a four-year informal ceasefire unravel in July, leading to renewed hostilities.
Why it matters
The Bab al-Mandab Strait is a critical chokepoint for global oil shipping. Control over this strait could significantly impact regional and international dynamics of the Yemeni civil war. Furthermore, the attacks on Saudi Arabia and the decision by Turkey and Pakistan to deploy military forces could further escalate tensions in the region, potentially causing ripples in global energy markets.