Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces have claimed to have taken effective control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait. However, Yemeni Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani stated that fighting with Houthi forces is still ongoing in this critical area. Reuters reported the news.
He told Reuters on Monday that government forces had captured key positions in the Dhubab area, near the narrowest part of the strait. They seized these positions by advancing rapidly along the coast with extensive air support from Saudi Arabia.
Widespread concern arose in international energy markets last month after Iran-backed Houthis seized control of Bab al-Mandab. Vast quantities of oil and other goods are transported through this strait, which serves as a vital shipping route connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean.
Al-Eryani stated that government forces had captured an airbase in Dhubab, located near the strait. He also claimed that Houthi fighters in the area had been cut off. However, another Yemeni government official reported that fighting was still underway around a military base near the strait.
Earlier, the Houthis dismissed the claims of the government forces’ advance, labeling them “completely false.” At the same time, they threatened to attack any aircraft flying in Saudi airspace.
If government forces secure control over the coastal areas of Bab al-Mandab, it may become difficult for the Houthis to disrupt shipping. However, they still retain the capability to attack ships using drones from areas further north along the coast and from inland positions.
Meanwhile, five military sources within the government forces reported that the Houthis have also made gains near Taiz, another key Yemeni city. They claimed that the Houthis had seized sections of a crucial mountain road, effectively trapping government forces in the area.
However, another Yemeni government official denied reports that the road had been cut off. As a result, conflicting claims are emerging regarding the war situation in both the Bab al-Mandab and Taiz areas.
