Yemen’s civil war has entered a dangerous new phase after government-backed forces announced a major offensive against the Houthi movement and claimed control of strategic positions near the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The reported advances, supported by Saudi air strikes, have raised fears of further regional escalation and disruption along one of the world’s most important maritime routes.
Yemeni authorities said forces from the National Shield, Giants Brigades and Tihama Resistance had secured the southern Red Sea approach and captured the coastal city of Mokha. However, conflicting accounts from government and military sources suggested troops had reached only the outskirts of the city, while Houthi-run media rejected reports of significant advances.
Yemen offensive focuses on Bab al-Mandab and Mokha
The Bab al-Mandab Strait connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is a crucial passage for commercial shipping and energy supplies. Government forces said they had taken Dhubab military airfield, located about 45km south of Mokha, and cut a road linking the Dhubab district with the strait.
Military sources also reported that Houthi fighters were being surrounded near Dhubab. The Yemeni government said operations had started on several fronts, including around Sanaa, the capital controlled by the Houthis since the early years of the civil war.
Saudi Arabia’s military coalition said its aircraft were providing continuous support to the offensive. It claimed that hundreds of high-value targets had been hit since operations began, although independent confirmation of the scale and impact of those strikes remains limited.
Conflicting claims over control of Mokha
The status of Mokha remained disputed. Yemeni government officials described the city as captured, while other sources said troops had advanced to its outskirts. The competing claims reflect the difficulty of verifying battlefield developments in a conflict where both sides regularly issue opposing statements.
- Government forces reported advances around Mokha and Dhubab.
- Houthi media denied that government troops had secured Dhubab.
- Saudi aircraft continued air support for the offensive.
- Fighting was also reported on other fronts, including near Sanaa and Taiz.
Houthi missile and drone attacks target Saudi Arabia
The Houthis said they launched ballistic missiles and drones at sites in Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh’s international airport, an Aramco refinery and facilities in the Khurais area. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree described the attacks as retaliation for Saudi air strikes and restrictions affecting Houthi-held territory.
Satellite imagery reviewed after the reported attacks showed dark smoke rising from areas associated with the Riyadh refinery and the Khurais Central Processing Facility. The claims and damage assessments have not been independently verified in full.
Saudi Arabia condemned the attacks and called on permanent members of the United Nations Security Council to support Yemen’s internationally recognised government. The United Nations secretary-general expressed concern about the sharp increase in violence and condemned continued cross-border Houthi attacks.
Regional powers respond to escalation
Turkey and Pakistan held an emergency meeting in Riyadh and agreed to move quickly on a defence arrangement with Saudi Arabia. The announcement adds another international dimension to a conflict already involving regional military powers and competing alliances.
Houthi authorities warned civilian airlines that Saudi airspace, apart from areas above Mecca and Medina, was unsafe because of the military operations. Houthi-run media also reported that Saudi strikes had killed a schoolgirl and a woman in districts around Sanaa, claims that require independent verification.
Humanitarian costs rise as Yemen fighting intensifies
Yemen’s conflict began in its current form in 2014, when Houthi forces seized Sanaa and removed the government from the capital. Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened the following year to restore the internationally recognised authorities.
An informal ceasefire that had lasted for several years began to deteriorate after the Houthis announced a maritime embargo and resumed attacks involving missiles and drones. The latest offensive follows Houthi advances along Yemen’s south-western Red Sea coast, including areas near Mokha, Dhubab and Perim Island.
According to figures cited from Yemen’s health ministry, at least 959 people have died and about 5,000 have been injured since 6 August. The United Nations has reported that a further 197,000 people have been displaced. Continued fighting threatens civilians, medical services, transport routes and access to food and fuel.
Why the Bab al-Mandab Strait matters
Any prolonged battle near Bab al-Mandab could affect shipping between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The waterway is particularly significant because wider regional tensions have already placed pressure on alternative energy routes and contributed to volatility in global oil markets.
Control of coastal roads, airfields and islands could give either side greater influence over maritime traffic and military logistics. Even without a complete closure, threats to vessels or insurance concerns could increase transport costs and deepen economic pressure.
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What happens next in Yemen?
The immediate focus will be on whether government forces can consolidate their reported gains around Mokha and Dhubab. The Houthis may attempt counterattacks against exposed supply lines, while Saudi Arabia is likely to maintain air support as long as cross-border attacks continue.
Diplomatic pressure will also increase, but the announcement that de-escalation opportunities have been exhausted suggests that negotiations are unlikely to produce an immediate breakthrough. Civilian protection and humanitarian access will remain central concerns as the offensive expands.
The Yemen offensive is more than a battlefield contest: it is a struggle over territory, maritime access and regional influence. Until credible negotiations replace military escalation, every advance around Bab al-Mandab risks widening the conflict and increasing the humanitarian cost.
