Yemeni military says it has 'secured' Red Sea waterway
Yemeni pro-government forces, supported by Saudi-led air strikes, have launched a major offensive to reclaim territory from Houthi rebels. While the military claims to have secured the Bab al-Mandab Strait, reports on the capture of specific cities remain conflicting.
Why it matters
The conflict in Yemen has significant implications for global shipping security and regional stability in the Middle East.
Image source, AFP Image caption, Yemen's government says it has launched an offensive aimed at retaking all territory held by the Houthis
Yemeni pro-government forces backed by Saudi Arabia say they have "secured" the Bab al-Mandab Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea, at the start of a major offensive against the Iran-backed Houthi movement.
The Yemeni military also said in a statement that National Shield, Giants Brigades and Tihama Resistance forces had captured the Red Sea city of Mokha on Monday afternoon with the help of Saudi air strikes.
But in conflicting reports, unnamed Yemeni government and military sources told news agencies Reuters and AFP that the forces have only reached the city's outskirts.
There was no immediate comment from the Houthis regarding Mokha.
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