Houthi rebel forces in Yemen have captured approximately 2,100 square miles of strategic territory near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, marking the largest shift in the country’s civil war front lines since a United Nations-brokered truce in April 2022. According to U.N. figures, the military push forced more than 100,000 people to flee their homes, with many making risky sea journeys to nearby Djibouti.
The offensive advanced to cut the key road connecting the city of Taiz to the port town of Mokha. Houthi forces subsequently established control over Mokha, the town of Dhubab, and Mayyun Island, situated directly in the mouth of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Prior to the push, the conflict had remained largely stalemated for years, with Houthi forces maintaining control over much of northwestern Yemen while Saudi-backed coalition forces held dominant positions in the south and east.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree stated that the offensive was triggered by years of Saudi aggression and blockade policies. U.N. agencies have documented real and sustained damage to Yemen’s infrastructure resulting from coalition restrictions on the country’s ports and airspace throughout the civil war. The group declared its ceasefire with Saudi Arabia over, launched a strike against the airport in the Saudi city of Abha, and announced a naval blockade a week later.
The territorial push comes amid severe disruptions to regional shipping routes. Following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in March, Tehran closed the Strait of Hormuz, forcing Saudi Arabia to route crude oil shipments through Bab el-Mandeb at roughly eight times the rate recorded a year prior. Since March, Tehran has also been charging commercial vessels up to $2 million per ship for safe passage through Hormuz. Controlling Bab el-Mandeb gives Houthi forces and their allies leverage over a second primary maritime trade choke point.
Yemeni security sources stated that Abdul Reza Shahlai, a senior Iranian commander, was on the ground overseeing parts of the military operation in September.
Sources
– [The Conversation](https://theconversation.com/houthi-advance-boosts-irans-leverage-over-the-us-and-saudi-arabia-but-may-cost-rebel-group-its-legitimacy-back-in-yemen-291930)
Source: The Conversation – Global
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Story synopsis gathered from: The Conversation – Global — source
