Yemeni forces report gains near Bab al-Mandab as Houthis claim repelled attack
Yemeni military sources said government forces were advancing against Houthis near the Bab al-Mandab strait but had not taken full control of the waterway. The Saudi-backed government launched a counter-offensive last week to recover territory captured by the Iran-aligned group. The Houthis said they repelled the assault and still held Bab al-Mandab, Mayun Island, and other western coastal areas; a missile attack in Riyadh wounded at least five Saudi nationals.
The fighting could deepen hardship for Yemenis already enduring war, especially communities near the western coast and Bab al-Mandab, where displacement, casualties, and disrupted supplies may increase. If the strait remains contested, shipping and humanitarian access through one of the region’s key maritime routes may face further uncertainty. Missile attacks on Saudi cities could also heighten public anxiety and pressure authorities to respond, though the full human and economic effects may not be clear while claims remain hard to verify. Count: The1 fighting2 could3 deepen4 hardship5 for6 Yemenis7 already8 enduring9 war10, especially11 communities12 near13 the14 western15 coast16 and17 Bab18 al-Mandab19, where20 displacement21, casualties22, and23 disrupted24 supplies25 may26 increase27. If28 the29 strait30 remains31 contested32, shipping33 and34 humanitarian35 access36 through37 one38 of39 the40 region’s41 key42 maritime43 routes44 may45 face46 further47 uncertainty48. Missile49 a