Saudi envoy says Bab el-Mandeb has been “cleared” of Houthi forces after Yemeni government offensive retakes strategic areas around the strait

Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed Al Jaber, said the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait has been “cleared” of Houthi forces following a major offensive by Yemen’s internationally recognized government and allied forces that retook key positions around the waterway this week. Al Jaber called the development a “victory for every Yemeni and Arab,” but provided no further details on the extent of government control, while the Houthis have not commented on his latest statement.

Yemeni government forces launched Operation Dawn of Yemen this week to reverse Houthi gains along the Red Sea coast. Government forces earlier said they had regained control of the Bab el-Mandeb area, while advancing through Dhubab and other positions around the strategic waterway.

The latest declaration follows a rapid Houthi offensive in September that dramatically expanded the group’s presence along Yemen’s western coast. Houthi forces captured Mayyun, also known as Perim Island, in the middle of Bab el-Mandeb, after taking the port city of Mokha and other coastal positions, giving the group control over strategically important territory overlooking the shipping route.

Bab el-Mandeb connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is the southern gateway to the Suez Canal, making it one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes. Control of the area has taken on greater significance during the Iran war as disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz have increased the importance of alternative shipping and energy routes through the Red Sea.