Yemeni government forces retreat from strait in major setback in war against Houthis
Yemeni government forces have retreated from the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to consolidate defenses around Aden following Houthi advances. This withdrawal marks a significant setback in the Saudi-backed campaign and highlights the shifting power dynamics in the Red Sea region.
Why it matters
The loss of control over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait poses a direct threat to international shipping lanes and regional security.
Yemeni government forces announced on Sunday (November 15, 2026) that they were withdrawing from the area near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to focus on a defence of their main base in Aden, in a major setback for the Saudi-backed campaign against the Iran-aligned Houthis. The announcement signalled the apparent end of a six-week government counteroffensive to reclaim the coast near the mouth of the Red Sea, seized by the Houthis in September in a lightning advance that squeezed oil exports. Sunday's announcement of a government retreat raises the prospect of new Houthi advances towards Aden, and underscores the predicament faced by Saudi Arabia in trying to stop the Houthis' drone and missile attacks on the kingdom. The government forces have been based in Aden on the southern coast since 2015 after the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa.
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Yemeni Forces Withdraw From Strategic Strait Amid Regional Conflict
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