The Armed Forces of Yemen intensified their offensive against the Houthis near Bab el Mandeb

The Armed Forces of Yemen intensified their operations against Houthi terrorists on the western coast of the country this Friday, after the Iran-backed militia advanced on Mocha and other strategic locations near the Bab el Mandeb strait.

The military response from the internationally recognized government included new bombings against positions, vehicles, and weapons depots of the rebels, while authorities urged the population to stay away from the main roads in the area due to the escalation of fighting.

The spokesman for the Yemeni Army, Majed Abdulá al Nuzaily, confirmed that the Air Force had begun attacks in areas previously identified as military targets. The official urged civilians to avoid routes connecting Taiz with Mocha and Mocha with Dhubab, and requested that they refrain from traveling on the declared restricted routes until further notice.

The government offensive aims to halt the rapid advance of the Houthis along the Red Sea coastal strip and recover positions deemed strategic for national and regional security. In a subsequent communication, Al Nuzaily reported new attacks in Al Mukha and Dhu Bab, where Yemeni aviation reportedly targeted concentrations of fighters, vehicles, and military material of the militia.

Among the targets was the area around the port of Al Mukha, where government forces claimed to have destroyed Houthi vehicles and military equipment, in addition to inflicting casualties among the rebel fighters. Concentrations of militants near the Zaid al Kharj shopping center and positions close to water supply facilities in the city were also attacked.

The Armed Forces also attacked a concentration of vehicles and fighters located on the road between Al Mukha and Dhu Bab, at a point known as "the animal slaughterhouse," approximately eleven kilometers from the city. Another target identified by the Army was the former headquarters of a Houthi military commander located north of Al Mukha.

The advances of the rebels pose a significant challenge to the Yemeni government. The Houthis recently took control of Mocha, Dhubab, and Murad, extending their control over almost the entire Red Sea coast that remained in the hands of government forces. The location of these towns is particularly sensitive due to their proximity to the Bab el Mandeb strait, a crucial maritime route connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and international trade routes.

The Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Sari, described the rebel offensive launched the previous week as a "success" and claimed that their forces had taken six towns in the provinces of Taiz and Hodeida. According to his account, the Houthis had advanced over approximately 5,400 square kilometers and caused numerous casualties among rival troops.

However, the rebel advance has provoked an increasingly forceful response from government-backed forces and their regional allies. Reports cited by international media indicated that government units withdrew from some positions under Houthi pressure, while fighting spread to the islands of Mayun and Zuqar, located in the Bab el Mandeb area.

The Houthi offensive threatens to exacerbate a conflict that has remained open since 2014 and puts pressure on the truce reached in 2022. Control of Bab el Mandeb also adds an international component to the crisis, due to the strait's importance for maritime transport.