Politics
Yemeni Forces Withdraw From Strategic Strait Amid Regional Conflict
Southern troops pull back to defend Aden as Houthi gains threaten vital global shipping corridors near the Red Sea.
By Headlinne · Compiled from reporting by Express Tribune, Times of India and Hindu
Yemeni government forces withdrew from territory overlooking the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Sunday to prioritize defending Aden, ceding vital coastal positions to Houthi fighters and delivering a severe blow to the Saudi-backed coalition.
The redeployment involved troops pulling back from Dhubab Airport and surrounding western areas of the Taiz Governorate, according to announcements made by the Southern Armed Forces on Sunday.
The retreat ends a counteroffensive launched in October aimed at reversing rapid Houthi advances along the Red Sea coast, reigniting a conflict that had remained dormant under a truce since 2022.
The Southern Armed Forces said in a statement that the manoeuvre was executed to defend the interim capital and adjacent provinces.
"The Southern Armed Forces announce the implementation of a redeployment operation for its forces from Dhubab Airport and the Bab el-Mandeb area, west of Taiz Governorate," the statement said.
Military officials added that the measure was necessary to fortify defensive perimeters and counter escalating security threats.
"This step is taken based on the priority of securing the capital, Aden, and the neighbouring governorates, as well as strengthening the front lines and addressing existing threats," the statement added.
The relinquished territory grants Iran-aligned Houthi forces enhanced dominance over a critical maritime corridor used by cargo vessels traveling between Asia and Europe via the Suez Canal.
Military sources noted that retreating government troops repositioned themselves further south at al-Suqyah, located approximately 150 kilometers west of Aden.
Concurrently, the International Committee of the Red Cross reported that the Houthi movement released 600 prisoners on Sunday.
Fighting has displaced more than 340,000 individuals since August, worsening humanitarian conditions as aid deliveries struggle to reach besieged urban centers like Taiz.
Neither the Houthi leadership nor Saudi officials issued immediate public responses regarding the military withdrawal from the strait.
Reporting from
- The Express TribuneBalanced
Yemen's government-aligned forces repel Houthi attack as fighting has displaced over 340,000 people
- Times of IndiaBalanced
Yemeni forces withdraw from Bab el-Mandeb as Houthis cement foothold
- The HinduBalanced
Yemeni government forces retreat from strait in major setback in war against Houthis
How this article was made: Headlinne wrote it with AI from the 3 reports listed above. Direct quotes are checked word for word against those reports, every number appears in at least one of them, and no other sentence is copied from one. Photos are from those reports and credited to them. Each report’s page on Headlinne links to the outlet’s original.