Yemeni military says it has retaken Mokha and 'secured' Red Sea waterway

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1. 2h ago

   Yemeni Forces Seize Bab al-Mandab Areas and Key Red Sea Port

   Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces have seized districts and expelled Iran-backed Houthi rebels from areas around the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea. Military sources announced they have secured the vital waterway and reclaimed the key port city of Mokha during a major counteroffensive. Concurrently, a Saudi-led coalition reported that its fighter jets are actively bombing Houthi positions. The offensive reverses weeks of gains by the Houthi movement around the vital shipping corridor linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.

   Why it matters

   The Bab al-Mandab Strait is a critical international shipping lane linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, heavily impacting Gulf oil shipping dynamics and regional security. The military escalation involves collective deterrence measures agreed upon by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, which activated plans to rapidly deploy forces and military capabilities to the kingdom. Despite these tactical advances against the Houthis, observers note that ongoing fighting elsewhere demonstrates how far Yemen remains from a decisive shift.

   What is confirmed

   • Saudi-backed Yemeni forces have seized districts and expelled Houthi rebels from areas around the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
   • A Saudi-led coalition reported that its fighter jets are bombing Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
   • Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan activated collective deterrence measures and agreed to rapidly deploy forces to the kingdom.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Saudi-backed forces gave conflicting reports regarding whether they had fully seized the port city of Mokha near the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

   What to watch next

   • Verification of control over the port city of Mokha
   • Further deployments of military capabilities by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan
   • Subsequent Houthi military responses or counterattacks in the region
   Sources used for this update (13)

   1. Reuters — Yemeni government forces seize district by Bab el-Mandeb, military sources say
   2. apnews.com — A Saudi-led coalition says its fighter jets are bombing Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels
   3. BBC — Yemeni government forces say they have 'secured' Bab al-Mandab Strait
   4. www.iranintl.com — Saudi-backed forces say they retook key Red Sea port in anti-Houthi offensive
   5. www.namibian.com.na — Yemeni military says it has 'secured' Red Sea waterway - News - The Namibian
   6. CNBC — Yemen forces reclaim key Red Sea port city from Iran-backed Houthis in major counteroffensive
   7. www.bbc.co.uk — Yemeni military says it has retaken Mokha and 'secured' Red Sea waterway - BBC News
   8. The Dispatch — Fallout From a Failed Execution
   9. www.iranintl.com — Houthi gains reversed at Bab al-Mandab, but Iran’s leverage runs deeper
   10. timesofindia.indiatimes.com — Red Sea Strait: Bab al-Mandab showdown: Saudi-backed Yemen forces claim key Red Sea strait secured
   11. gulfnews.com — Yemen Retakes Strategic Red Sea Areas: Implications for Gulf ...
   12. www.koreatimes.co.kr — Saudi-backed Yemeni forces expel Houthi rebels from several areas around key strait, officials say
   confidence 90%