The army of Yemen’s internationally recognized government announced it has regained control of the Dhubab district and key positions near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. This announcement follows the launch of a major military operation against the Houthis. The operation involved the Homeland Shield Forces and the Giants Brigades, which conducted a large-scale military offensive with air support targeting Houthi positions in the area, as reported by Yemen’s news agency Saba on Monday.
An unnamed army source stated that during the operation, government forces advanced and seized important positions, effectively cutting off supply lines and roads leading to Bab al-Mandeb. The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, reportedly suffered losses in fighters and military equipment during the clashes.
The Yemeni government forces are continuing efforts to secure the liberated areas and disrupt supply routes to the Houthi militia. Following the announcement of the military operation, the Saudi Arabia-led coalition initiated an air campaign against the Houthis, with Major General Turki al-Maliki stating that 100 fighter jets were providing support to the Yemeni forces. He claimed that the coalition has secured air protection of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and has destroyed numerous Houthi targets.
Additionally, government forces have announced a strategic offensive aimed at retaking Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, which has been under Houthi control since 2014. Al Jazeera noted that it could not independently verify the reports from the battlefield.
The conflict in Yemen has been ongoing since the Houthis seized Sanaa, leading to the government retreating to Aden. The situation escalated after a truce between the government and the Houthis collapsed in July 2022. In mid-September, the Houthis captured parts of western Yemen, including the port city of Mocha and strategic islands in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Since then, anti-Houthi forces have stabilized the front lines. On Sunday, Rashad al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, announced military operations to reclaim territory held by the Houthis.
These developments coincide with the arrival of Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Saudi Arabia for discussions with Saudi and Turkish officials under the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement. The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and military chief Asim Munir will join Dar in talks in Riyadh.
The defense pact, signed on August 7, aims to enhance collective deterrence and defense cooperation among Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan. It stipulates that an attack on one of the three nations will be considered an attack on all.
Dar mentioned that the urgent talks would address a proposal for political engagement with the Iran-aligned Houthis as an alternative to military action, following an approach from Tehran. Al Jazeera’s Michael Appel highlighted that the Yemen war is expected to be a significant topic in the Saudi-hosted discussions, noting the humanitarian crisis affecting civilians caught in the conflict.