In brief
Yemen’s government troops, backed by Saudi‑led forces, launched a new offensive near the Bab al‑Mandab Strait on Monday, sparking intense clashes with Houthi fighters. At least nine government soldiers lost their lives, while Houthi casualties were reported but not quantified. Both sides claim victory, underscoring the continuing struggle for control of this critical maritime chokepoint.
On Monday, early in the morning, government forces of Yemen—supported by the Saudi‑led coalition—began a fresh offensive near the Bab al‑Mandab Strait, a narrow waterway that links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and serves as a vital route for global shipping. The clash, reported by a government military source to Xinhua, involved units of the Southern Giants Brigades and other government troops advancing toward positions held by the Houthi movement.
According to the anonymous source, the offensive immediately triggered fierce combat. Houthi fighters launched missiles and drones against the advancing columns. The report said at least nine government soldiers, including a field commander, were killed during the engagement. The Houthi source, coming from al‑Masirah TV—a network run by the Houthi movement—claimed that the attackers suffered “heavy losses” and that a “large number” of soldiers were killed or wounded, though no exact total was provided.
The Bab al‑Mandab Strait is one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints, carrying a substantial portion of the trade between Asia and Europe. The current skirmish marks the latest attempt by government forces to secure the area amid a broader escalation that has seen intensified ground battles and airstrikes inside Yemen, coupled with Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi targets.
Both sides claim victory in the encounter. The government source told Xinhua that the offensive was an “attempt” to push the Houthi line closer to the strait, labeling the attempts as “failed” from the Houthi perspective. The Houthi source stated that their forces had repelled the attacks and inflicted significant losses on the opposing troops.
Historically, Yemen has been engulfed in conflict since late 2014, when the Houthi movement seized the capital Sanaa and much of northern Yemen. This prompted the Saudi‑led coalition to intervene in 2015, supporting the internationally recognized Yemeni government. The 2026 skirmish near the Bab al‑Mandab Strait is part of a continuing pattern of violent confrontations that have left thousands dead and displaced millions, with the international community wary of the conflict’s impact on global maritime security.
While the exact number of Houthi casualties remains unclear, both sources acknowledge that there were losses on both sides. Regardless of the reported figures, the incident underscores the fragile security situation surrounding the Bab al‑Mandab Strait and the enduring contest for control of this critical shipping lane between Yemen’s government forces and the Houthi insurgents.
