Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces seize key positions near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, according to military and government sources cited by multiple outlets. They move to reverse earlier advances by Iran-backed Houthis and to drive them away from the strategically vital waterway. The reporting says the operation focuses on Dhubab district, which overlooks the strait.
Reuters-based accounts specify that the forces take large parts of Dhubab district and assert full control over the area, supported by heavy air strikes from a Saudi-led coalition. Middle East Eye also reports that Houthi-aligned media earlier denied government forces making advances in the area, highlighting an ongoing information dispute alongside the fighting.
Across the sources, the central points remain consistent: the claimed territorial gains by government forces, the strategic importance of Bab el-Mandeb, and the role of coalition air support. Differences are limited to outlet phrasing and the inclusion of the earlier Houthi denial, rather than the substance of the claims.
