Yemeni military forces, supported by Saudi Arabia, have retaken the port city of Mokha and declared the Bab al-Mandab Strait secure. This development marks the start of a broader offensive dubbed Operation Yemen Dawn.
What Happened
Yemeni pro-government forces captured Mokha, a key port city near the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The operation involved National Shield, Giants Brigades, and Tihama Resistance units.
These forces were supported by Saudi air strikes. The military reported seizing Dhubab airport, 45km south of Mokha, and began a siege of Houthi fighters in the nearby town.
There was no immediate response from the Houthis. However, Houthi-run media denied any advances in Dhubab.
Key Facts
- Saudi-led coalition reported destroying 324 ‘high-value’ targets since the offensive began.
- At least 959 people have been killed and 5,000 injured since 6 August in the conflict.
- UN estimates 197,000 people have been displaced.
- Earlier, Houthis launched ballistic missiles and drones at Saudi Aramco facilities in Riyadh and Khurais.
- Satellite imagery shows smoke plumes from strikes at both the Riyadh Refinery and Khurais facility.
Background: The Conflict
The Yemeni civil war began in 2014 when the Houthis ousted the government from Sanaa. A Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015 to restore government rule.
A four-year informal ceasefire began to unravel in July. The Houthis imposed a maritime embargo on Saudi Arabia and began missile and drone attacks on Saudi airports and oil facilities.
They claimed these actions were retaliation for a Saudi blockade of Houthi-controlled ports and an air strike on Sanaa airport.
Why It Matters
The Bab al-Mandab Strait is a critical shipping route. It connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and is vital for global oil exports.
Since the US and Israel’s war with Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia has relied on the Red Sea for oil exports. The Houthis’ seizure of Mokha and the strait raised concerns about shipping safety and oil flow.
With Mokha now retaken, the government claims the strait is secure. This could restore stability to the region’s maritime operations.
Human Cost and Response
Saudi air strikes killed a schoolgirl and a woman in the Sanhan and Saawan districts of Sanaa, according to Houthi-run Al Masirah TV.
Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdul Salam accused Saudi Arabia of committing ‘dozens of massacres’ and called for accountability.
The Houthi-run Humanitarian Operations Co-ordination Centre warned civilian airlines that Saudi airspace—except above Mecca and Medina—is no longer safe.
What to Watch Next
Operations are now expanding beyond Mokha. The government has launched attacks on Sanaa, the capital, which fell to the Houthis at the start of the civil war.
Further developments will include the Houthi response to the Saudi strikes and the potential for escalation in the Red Sea region.
Monitoring of oil exports and maritime traffic through the Bab al-Mandab Strait will remain critical.
Source: BBC News
Sources & further reading
Featured image: Yemeni government forces deployed on the streets.jpg by Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Image source
