Yemeni Government Forces Reclaim Dhubab and Strategic Bab al-Mandeb Positions from Houthis

The army of Yemen’s internationally recognised government announced it has successfully seized control of the Dhubab district alongside vital positions near the Bab al-Mandeb strait. This major development follows the government's declaration of a large-scale military operation directed against the Houthis.

According to a statement carried by Yemen’s news agency Saba, forces originating from the Homeland Shield Forces and the Giants Brigades executed the wide-reaching operation, which featured heavy air cover targeting Houthi militia movements and positions throughout the district. An unnamed army source informed Saba that troops successfully advanced, secured critical locations, and severed essential supply lines and roadways heading toward Bab al-Mandeb.

The military source noted that the Houthis, also recognized as Ansar Allah, suffered significant casualties including numerous dead and wounded fighters, alongside extensive damage to military equipment. Saba reported that government forces are actively working to secure liberated regions and maintain blockades on Houthi supply routes.

Prior to these updates, Brigadier-General Majid Abdullah al-Nuzaili, a spokesman for the Yemeni forces, shared on X that a wave of 1,122 attacks had been launched against Houthi artillery positions, rocket launchers, and command centers. These strikes utilized warplanes, drones, missiles, rockets, artillery, and snipers across Saada, al-Jawf, Taiz, and coastal areas, resulting in the reported death of 1,747 Houthi fighters. Al Jazeera could not independently verify these battlefield metrics.

Yemen's conflict persists following the Houthi takeover of Sanaa in 2014, which drove the government into retreat in Aden. The conflict intensified after a 2022 truce broke down in July, leading to mid-September Houthi advances across western Yemen that included capturing the port city of Mocha and strategic Bab al-Mandeb islands, though anti-Houthi forces have since stabilized front lines. Rashad al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, initiated the new military campaign on Sunday to reclaim all remaining Houthi-held territory.

Simultaneously, regional diplomatic talks are underway in Saudi Arabia under the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement. Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived alongside Defense Minister Khawaja Asif and military chief Asim Munir for discussions with Saudi and Turkish counterparts in Riyadh. The pact, signed by Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan on August 7, establishes that an assault on any member nation is regarded as an attack against all three. Dar previously noted that these talks would evaluate a political engagement proposal with the Iran-aligned Houthis as an alternative to military action. Al Jazeera's Michael Appel highlighted that the ongoing conflict in Yemen remains central to these discussions, leaving thousands of civilians vulnerable to continued displacement and hunger amidst a worsening humanitarian crisis.