Yemeni Government Forces Report Gains Near Bab al-Mandab Strait

Yemeni government forces announced on Monday that they had taken control of the Dhu Bab area, its airport and strategic positions near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, west of Taiz.

The announcement followed advances by Houthi forces in the same area over recent days. The reported government gains point to another shift in control along Yemen’s strategically important western coast.

The significance of the advance lies in Dhu Bab’s proximity to Bab al-Mandab, the maritime passage linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Positions near the strait carry importance beyond the immediate battlefield because of their location alongside a major international shipping route.

The announcement did not establish whether government forces had secured all surrounding areas. While the reported capture would strengthen their position near the strait, it does not by itself indicate control over maritime traffic through Bab al-Mandab.