Saudi-backed forces push against Houthis near key global trade route

Saudi-backed forces have launched a significant offensive against Houthi rebels, successfully recapturing several strategic locations near the Bab al-Mandab Strait. On Monday, Yemeni officials confirmed that forces aligned with the internationally recognized government, supported by a Saudi-led coalition, retook the crucial town of Dhubab, along with Bab and Hadeid, situated just north of the vital maritime chokepoint. This renewed push comes as part of a broader military operation aimed at reclaiming all Houthi-held territories, with the Saudi coalition providing extensive air cover using numerous fighter jets.

The Bab al-Mandab Strait is a critical global trade route, essential for international shipping and oil transport, which the Houthi rebels had gained greater control over in September through a previous offensive. While the Saudi-backed forces reported gains along the Red Sea coast, Houthi rebels, who had previously declared a blockade targeting Saudi shipping, also claimed recent territorial advances in southwestern Yemen and asserted responsibility for missile and drone attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure and military sites. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that the Saudi-backed government has a right to self-defense and confirmed a defense agreement with the United States, which includes intelligence sharing and operational planning support.