Yemeni forces battle Houthi assaults on strategic heights overlooking Bab Al-Mandab
Yemeni government forces are engaged in intense fighting against Houthi rebels near the strategic Bab Al-Mandab Strait. The Houthis are attempting to seize high ground to control the vital Red Sea shipping route, but have faced significant resistance.
Why it matters
Control over the Bab Al-Mandab Strait is critical for global maritime security and international shipping lanes, making this conflict a matter of global economic importance.
AL-MUKALLA: Heavy fighting between Yemeni government forces and the Iran-backed Houthis continued on Thursday for a fourth consecutive day around a strategic mountain in Al-Madaribah Wa Al-Aarah overlooking the Bab Al-Mandab Strait, as the militia seeks to seize high ground dominating the vital Red Sea waterway.
A Yemeni government official familiar with the situation along the Red Sea coast told Arab News that the Houthis had launched intense assaults on government troops defending positions in Kahbub but had so far failed to advance.
“The fighting is flaring up in Al-Madaribah, and the militia has not been able to advance even an inch,” said the official, who requested anonymity.
“The battle has been raging for four days, and the militia has lost many fighters and pieces of equipment.”
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