Yemeni forces claim retaking of Bab al-Mandeb as Saudi-led coalition intensifies air strikes

Key points

• Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council announced 'Operation Yemen Dawn' to reclaim all Houthi-held territory, including Sanaa and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
• Saudi-led coalition spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki stated that 100 fighter jets are providing air support and that the coalition has destroyed hundreds of Houthi targets.
• Yemeni forces claim to have secured the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and captured the Red Sea city of Mokha, though some sources report they only reached the outskirts.
• Houthis denied losing control of the strait and Mokha, claiming they struck Saudi Aramco oil facilities in Riyadh and Khurais in retaliation.
• The conflict has killed at least 959 people and displaced over 197,000 since August, according to the World Health Organization and UN agencies.
• Pakistan and Turkey agreed to deploy military forces to Saudi Arabia under their defense pact following Houthi attacks on Saudi cities.

Background

Yemen’s civil war began in 2014 when Houthis captured Sanaa, leading to a Saudi-led intervention in 2015. A 2022 UN-brokered truce held until August 2026, when Houthis announced a maritime embargo and resumed attacks. Recent fighting has intensified, with Houthis seizing key Red Sea coastal areas in September, prompting the current Saudi-backed counteroffensive.

How outlets are covering it

AP News and CNN emphasize the Saudi-led coalition’s pledge of 'full operational support' and the scale of air strikes, with al-Malki citing 100 fighter jets. Al Jazeera highlights the role of the Southern Giants Brigades and notes that territorial gains remain limited despite air support. BBC reports conflicting claims: Yemeni forces say they captured Mokha, but unnamed sources say they only reached the outskirts, while Houthis deny losing the city. All sources agree on the humanitarian toll, with AP citing 959 deaths and 174,097 displaced, while BBC notes 197,000 displaced. CNN adds that three out of four families in parts of Yemen are going hungry, per the World Food Program.

Why it matters

The Bab al-Mandeb Strait is a critical global trade chokepoint, with 12% of global trade transiting through it. The conflict threatens regional stability, global oil prices, and humanitarian conditions in Yemen, where the war has already caused one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters.

What to watch

Yemeni forces will continue 'Operation Yemen Dawn' to retake Houthi-held areas, including Sanaa. Saudi Arabia will likely maintain air support, while Pakistan and Turkey may deploy forces to Saudi Arabia. Houthis are expected to continue missile and drone attacks on Saudi targets. The humanitarian situation will likely worsen as fighting intensifies.