Yemen Clashes Kill 81 As Houthis Advance Towards Bab al-Mandab Strait
Yemen clashes leave 81 combatants dead as Houthis advance.
At least 81 people have been killed in clashes between Yemen’s Houthi rebels and Saudi-backed government forces, as the Iran-aligned group pushes towards territory near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a strategically important maritime chokepoint at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. The fighting erupted on Thursday after Houthi forces launched a ground offensive supported by rocket and drone attacks along coastal areas.
The Houthi offensive is focused on securing elevated positions overlooking government-held areas near the Red Sea, including the coastal town of Khokha and territory around Taiz. Military sources indicated that the rebels are seeking to tighten their position around the government-held port city of Mokha, which has faced attacks for several weeks, before advancing towards areas bordering Bab al-Mandab.
A military official on the coast reported that 24 government-aligned fighters were killed, while another official in the Taiz area put the number of government-force deaths there at 15. Medical sources in Houthi-controlled areas reported that at least 42 Houthi fighters were also killed. The reported toll could rise as fighting continues and authorities assess casualties from the latest clashes.
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The Houthis are seeking control of the hills overlooking Bab al-Mandab and Mokha, according to Yemeni officials. The government has responded by sending reinforcements to Taiz from Aden following instructions from Saudi Arabia. Although the Houthis do not control territory directly bordering the strait, they hold the key port city of Hodeida, north of Mokha, giving them a significant position along Yemen’s Red Sea coast.
Bab al-Mandab connects the Red Sea and the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal with the Indian Ocean, making it an important route for global shipping and energy supplies. Its strategic importance has increased amid disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, with Saudi Arabia relying more heavily on alternative routes for oil exports. Houthi attacks on commercial vessels since the Gaza war began in 2023 have already disrupted traffic through the Red Sea.
The latest escalation follows the collapse of a fragile truce between the Houthis and Yemen’s internationally recognised government in July. The breakdown came after the rebels welcomed an Iranian aircraft to Sanaa and was followed by renewed attacks. The Houthis later announced a maritime blockade targeting Saudi Arabia and began attacking Saudi-linked vessels and territory, adding another front to the wider Middle East conflict.
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