Saudi-backed Yemeni forces withdraw from Bab el-Mandeb area
The redeployment aims to secure Aden as Iran-aligned Houthi rebels gain control of the strategic maritime chokepoint.
Saudi-backed Yemeni forces announced on Sunday that they are withdrawing from an area overlooking the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. According to the Times of India, the Southern Armed Forces are redeploying from Dhubab Airport and the area west of Taiz Governorate towards Aden, where the internationally recognised government is based.
The Southern Armed Forces stated the move is intended to prioritise the security of Aden and nearby governorates, strengthen front lines, and address current threats. This withdrawal leaves the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in control of the territory.
The Houthis currently hold significant portions of northern Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa, and the most densely populated regions. The group launched an offensive in September to seize the Red Sea coastline, which prompted a government military campaign in October to recapture coastal areas.
The shift in control provides the Houthis with more leverage over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital route for goods travelling from Asia to Europe via the Suez Canal. This comes as Iran continues to disrupt traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Houthis have also targeted Saudi Arabia, including ports, airports, and Saudi Aramco facilities such as the Yanbu oil export hub. Saudi Arabia has responded by striking Houthi targets in Yemen, which has been in civil war since 2014.
