Yemeni government forces seize district by Bab el-Mandeb, military sources say

Yemeni government forces backed by a heavy coalition air campaign launched a sweeping offensive to retake territory along the Red Sea coast, securing key positions near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, military sources said. The operation marks a dramatic escalation in Yemen, where a dormant civil war erupted anew as a spillover from broader regional conflicts. The fighting threatens critical global energy and shipping lanes as energy exports face severe restrictions across the Middle East.

The internationally recognized government announced the start of "Dawn of Yemen" under the leadership of Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi, who vowed to fight until state authority is restored. According to Miamiherald reporting, government forces reached the outskirts of Mocha and retook vital positions including an airstrip in the Dhubab district. Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition, stated that over 100 fighter jets participated in the air campaign, striking hundreds of targets to establish air protection over the strait.

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Independent verification of territorial control remains difficult. While the Yemeni Defense Ministry claimed full control of Mocha and surrounding islands, Houthi officials dismissed the reports as baseless. Meanwhile, heavy fighting unfolded around the southern highlands. Five military sources reported that Houthi fighters advanced into al-Turbah and cut the main highway linking Taiz to the interim capital of Aden. One government source denied the road had been severed, but local accounts and monitoring organizations confirmed that Taiz remains encircled and under acute strain.

The humanitarian toll of the renewed hostilities continues to mount rapidly. The United Nations migration agency reported that tens of thousands of residents have fled their homes since the fighting resumed, with many seeking shelter in overcrowded camps or crossing the water toward Djibouti. Aid officials warn that basic commodities, fuel, and medical supplies are severely constrained. In Taiz, residents described long queues for scarce cooking gas and fuel as merchants struggle to enter the besieged urban center.

Regional diplomacy has shifted in response to the widening conflict. According to Themedialine, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan convened in Riyadh to discuss security cooperation under the Mecca defense pact. The agreement stipulates that an armed attack against any of the three nations is regarded as an attack on all. Concurrently, Iranian military leadership warned against renewed military action, and Houthi-aligned media issued warnings regarding air traffic in regional airspace.

What happens next depends on whether the Saudi-backed coalition can sustain its coastal offensive toward Hodeidah or if Houthi forces successfully consolidate their siege around Taiz. Observers note that both sides remain committed to inflicting military pressure to secure leverage before any potential political compromise.