Yemeni government forces launched a storm-like operation to retake the coastal areas of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. File photo
Yemeni government forces have launched a stormy offensive to retake the coastal areas of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, advancing along the coast around the strait towards the city of Mokha, forcing the Iran-backed Houthis to retreat from most of the territory they seized last month, the Yemeni government said.
In response, the Houthis have claimed responsibility for attacks on several key Saudi installations, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, an Aramco oil refinery in Rabigh, Abha International Airport, and the Khamis Mushait military base.
However, these claims could not be independently verified and there was no immediate comment from Saudi Arabia or Aramco.
Four officials from Yemen’s internationally recognized government said government forces, backed by massive Saudi airstrikes, reached the outskirts of the city of Moka on Monday night (October 5). At that time, Houthi fighters were retreating towards the mountainous area. Yemen’s Defense Ministry later claimed that they had taken control of the city.
If the Yemeni government takes control of the Mokha and Bab al-Mandeb straits, the Houthis’ control over the vital Red Sea oil shipping lanes would be greatly reduced. This could bring some relief to an already volatile energy market due to Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz. However, the Houthis still have the ability to attack ships using drones from other locations.
Yemen has been in the grip of renewed fighting on multiple fronts for weeks after the US-Iran conflict escalated. The Houthis are trying to seize control of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait while also carrying out missile and drone attacks on cities and infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi-led coalition also said on Monday night that it had launched a naval operation in Yemen’s Red Sea coastal province of Hodeidah. Earlier, government forces seized several key positions, including an air base, in the Dhubab area at the mouth of the strait. The Houthis’ capture of the area last month caused major concerns in global energy markets.
Reuters could not independently verify the extent of the government advance. The Houthis, who have controlled much of Yemen’s populated areas, including the capital Sanaa, have rejected the Saudi-backed government’s claims as baseless.
Meanwhile, the Houthis have also made significant advances near Yemen’s third-largest city, Taiz. Five Yemeni military sources said they had taken control of part of a key mountain road, leaving government forces blocked. However, a government official denied that the road had been completely cut off.
The Houthis have also threatened to attack vehicles flying in Saudi Arabian airspace.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s allies have also become active as the conflict intensifies. At an emergency meeting in Riyadh on Monday, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan agreed to rapidly deploy military forces and military capabilities to Saudi Arabia under the Mecca Defense Agreement, a joint statement said.