Yemeni government forces, backed by Saudi Arabia, say they have retaken positions near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and launched a strategic offensive against Houthi-held areas, including Sanaa. Houthi sources deny the advances, and both sides report strikes and casualties while the Red Sea route faces new threats to shipping and energy supplies. Tens of thousands have been displaced and food insecurity is worsening, and regional partners have moved to strengthen collective defense cooperation with Saudi Arabia.
Saudi-Backed Forces Advance Near Bab al-Mandeb as Yemen Fighting Threatens Global Shipping
Saudi-backed Yemeni government soldiers ride in a pickup truck near the Jabal Han front, west of the city of Taiz, which the Houthis are trying to encircle. - Ahmad Al-Basha/AFP/Getty Images
Yemeni government forces on Monday said they have retaken key positions around the Bab al-Mandeb Strait — a strategic maritime chokepoint — and launched a new offensive aimed at rolling back recent gains by the Iran-aligned Houthi movement. The claims come amid renewed airstrikes, Houthi counterclaims and rising regional tensions that threaten shipping and energy routes through the Red Sea.
Official Claims and Military Action
Majid al-Nuzaili, a Yemeni military spokesperson, wrote on X that government troops "have succeeded in controlling Bab al-Mandeb" and recaptured a crucial road linking Dhubab district with the port town of Mocha. He added that government units, backed by Saudi Arabia, have "begun implementing a strategic offensive operation" against the Houthi-controlled capital, Sanaa. CNN has not independently verified these claims.
Saudi Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki, a coalition spokesman, said the operation — called "Dawn of Yemen" — destroyed 324 high-value targets in its initial phase and involved about 100 fighter jets. The Saudi-led coalition reaffirmed full support for the internationally recognized Yemeni government.
Houthi Response and Escalation
The Houthi-run Saba News Agency called the government and coalition claims "fictitious," and a Houthi maritime coordination body, the Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC), warned airlines against flying in Saudi airspace, calling it "unsafe" while Saudi operations continue. Houthi-aligned officials also said Saudi forces launched more than 100 air and missile strikes in a 24-hour period and reported civilian casualties near Sanaa; independent verification of these casualty figures was not available.
The Houthis said they struck Saudi energy facilities owned by state oil company Aramco and targeted airports including King Khalid International and Abha International. Saudi authorities did not immediately confirm those claims.
Impact on Shipping, Energy and Regional Security
Fighting around Bab al-Mandeb and along the Red Sea coast threatens global trade and energy supplies by disrupting an alternative shipping route that has grown in importance after disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Houthi attacks on vessels and on Saudi oil exports have already raised concerns about higher energy prices.
In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan agreed to move forward with implementing collective defense measures under the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement following emergency talks. Senior Turkish and Pakistani officials were reported to have arrived for discussions on regional security cooperation.
Humanitarian Toll and Local Fronts
The renewed fighting has displaced tens of thousands of people and worsened an already dire humanitarian crisis. The World Food Program reported that in parts of Yemen three out of every four families are going hungry amid surging violence. The United Nations estimates the war, which began in 2015, caused roughly 377,000 deaths by the end of 2021 from direct and indirect causes, with more than 150,000 attributed directly to conflict.
Much of the recent fighting has centered on Taiz in southern Yemen, where clashes have threatened to isolate government forces. Analysts say the current operation could mark a turning point if government forces succeed in weakening Houthi control of the coast and the Bab al-Mandeb waterway.
Verification and Open Questions
A video circulated online that appears to show government-aligned forces driving over Houthi fighters; CNN verified the footage was filmed along Yemen's western coast near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait but could not confirm the date or full circumstances. Multiple claims of gains, strikes and casualties from both sides remain independently unverified at this time.
This story has been updated. Reporting contributions from CNN's Nadeen Ebrahim, Gul Tuysuz, Sophia Saifi, Eyad Kourdi and Billy Stockwell are noted in original dispatches.
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