ADEN: Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed Al-Jaber, claimed on Friday that Saudi-backed Yemeni forces had cleared remaining Houthi fighters from the strategic Bab al-Mandab area.
“Bab al-Mandab is now free of remaining Houthi forces,” Al-Jaber wrote on X. The announcement followed advances by Yemeni government troops around the Red Sea shipping corridor, where both sides have contested control of key positions.
Yemeni government officials had earlier claimed their forces regained control of the strait and nearby territory. However, the Houthis disputed those accounts, while clashes continued around the waterway.
A Yemeni military source told Anadolu Agency that government forces launched an operation on Friday morning to secure Bab al-Mandab and nearby Mayun Island.
According to the source, the operation involved the Southern Giants Brigades and Nation’s Shield Forces, with support from the Saudi-led coalition.
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The Nation’s Shield Forces subsequently reported that their units were pursuing remaining Houthi fighters. Bab al-Mandab connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and serves as a major route for international shipping and regional energy supplies.
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Continued fighting around the strait has renewed concerns about maritime security as the conflict in Yemen intensifies. Saudi Ambassador Mohammed Al-Jaber claimed on Friday that Saudi-backed Yemeni forces had driven the remaining Houthis from Bab al-Mandab, although fighting continued nearby.
