In brief
Yemen’s government troops, backed by a Saudi‑led coalition, launched a fresh assault near the Bab al‑Mandab Strait early Monday, killing at least nine soldiers, including a field commander, while Houthi fighters struck back with missiles and drones. Both sides claim victory, with Houthi sources describing the offensive as a series of “failed attempts” that inflicted heavy losses on the attackers. The fighting underscores the strategic importance of the strait as a global maritime chokepoint and reflects the ongoing battle for control.
On Monday, government forces backed by a Saudi‑led coalition launched a new offensive near the Bab al‑Mandab Strait, sparking intense clashes with Houthi fighters. The operation began early in the day, as units from the Southern Giants Brigades and other government units advanced toward the strait’s overlooking positions.
A government military source told Xinhua that at least nine soldiers were killed, including a field commander, as Houthi forces used missiles and drones to hit the advancing troops. The source added that the Houthis also suffered casualties, but did not provide a figure.
Houthis, meanwhile, rejected the offensive as a series of "failed attempts" to reach the Bab al‑Mandab. A source within the movement said the attacks were repelled and that the Houthis inflicted "heavy losses" on the opposing forces.
"Failed attempts" to advance toward Bab al‑Mandab," a Houthi source said.
Both sides claim victory, highlighting the ongoing struggle for control over the strait, a narrow waterway that links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and serves as a key route between Asia and Europe.
The fighting also illustrates the broader conflict that has raged in Yemen since 2014, when the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa and much of northern Yemen, prompting Saudi intervention in 2015 and leading to continued escalations, airstrikes, and missile attacks in recent weeks.
