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Yemen government forces and Houthis clash over control of Bab el-Mandeb Strait

Yemeni government forces backed by Saudi air power say they have retaken ground near a key Red Sea chokepoint, while Houthi forces deny losing territory and claim new strikes on Saudi Arabia. Accounts of who controls the strait, and of casualties, diverge sharply along the lines of the conflict.

Analysis deskEditor Andersson IykeUpdated
24 outlets, 10 regions
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What happened

Yemeni government forces, backed by Saudi air power, launched a counteroffensive and claimed to have retaken strategic positions near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, including the town of Dhubab, after Houthi forces had seized areas of the Red Sea coast in preceding weeks.1257141524

Houthi officials denied losing territory and said government claims of an advance were fabricated, while also claiming new missile and drone strikes on Riyadh's international airport, an Aramco refinery, Abha airport and military sites in Jazan.3469101318

Saudi Arabia said three people were wounded in Houthi strikes on airports and warned the public against filming or sharing images of missile and drone interceptions.2122

A Saudi airstrike on a marketplace in Taiz reportedly killed seven people and wounded 40 more, according to Houthi media reports, as the broader conflict was described as intertwined with wider Iran-US regional tensions and as having displaced more than 184,000 people according to the United Nations.91112

What's agreed

Reported consistently by outlets in more than one region.

  • Yemeni government forces, backed by Saudi air power, launched an offensive and advanced on positions near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, including the town of Dhubab, after Houthi forces had taken control of the Red Sea coast area in preceding weeks.125714151724
  • Houthi forces claimed missile and drone strikes on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, an Aramco oil refinery, and other sites in southern Saudi Arabia.469101314182122
  • The Houthis are widely described as Iran-backed, while the Yemeni government forces are backed by Saudi Arabia.1716171823
  • Fighting has intensified and is widely described as escalating, with the conflict linked to broader regional tensions involving Iran.412132223

Where accounts differ

Each account is attributed to who makes it. We do not judge between them.

Control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and surrounding coastal area

Yemeni government and Saudi-backed outlets

Yemeni Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani said government forces had secured effective control of the strait, retaking the town of Dhubab with heavy Saudi air support.214

Houthi military spokesman, via TASS

Houthi spokesman Yahya Saria said the group retains control of captured territories and called reports of a government advance fabricated.34

The Express Tribune

Reported that while Yemeni troops retook coastal positions and advanced toward Mocha, rebels were simultaneously making gains around Taiz.24

Casualties from a Saudi strike on Taiz

Houthi media, reported by Punch

A Saudi airstrike on a central marketplace in Taiz killed seven people and wounded 40 more, according to Houthi media reports.11

Scale and effect of Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia

Houthis

Houthis claimed direct hits on Riyadh's international airport, Abha airport, an Aramco refinery, and military sites in Jazan, saying the Abha strike disrupted air traffic.6910131418

Le Monde, citing Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia said three people were wounded in Houthi strikes on airports, a more limited casualty account than the scale implied by Houthi claims.21

How it's framed

What each perspective puts first, based on headlines and summaries.

PerspectiveHow it readsWhat it puts first
Saudi-aligned and Western outlets emphasizing government advancesNorth AmericaFrame the story around a Yemeni government counteroffensive retaking strategic ground, with attention to the economic stakes of oil markets and shipping.71623counteroffensive, oil price impact, strategic chokepoint
Yemeni and Egyptian outlets reporting government claimsAfricaReport government and ministerial claims of retaking territory from Houthis near the strait, framed as a rollback of recent Houthi gains.12government advance, Saudi air support, trade route security
Russian state media reporting Houthi denialsRussia & EurasiaCenters Houthi statements denying territorial loss and dismissing government claims as fabricated.313Houthi denial, disputed narrative, cross-border strikes
Gulf and Turkish outlets covering Saudi response and security measuresMiddle East & TurkeyFocus on Saudi Arabia's security measures and claimed Houthi strikes, including restrictions on filming interceptions and regional troop deployments.61522Saudi security measures, escalating strikes, coalition response
South Asian outlets emphasizing humanitarian and regional scaleSouth AsiaEmphasize the conflict's place within the wider regional war, citing UN displacement figures and describing Yemen as the most active front.91824humanitarian toll, regional war context, displacement figures
European outlets detailing operational and diplomatic specificsEuropeProvide detailed operational names and numbers, such as the aircraft count in Operation Yemen Dawn and competing claims about victories and casualties.1421operation details, competing claims, troop deployments
East and Southeast Asian state and private outletsEast AsiaReport government claims of control and Houthi counterclaims with relatively neutral framing, with Chinese state media linking the conflict to wider Iran-US tensions.21220ministerial statements, regional tension linkage
Oceania public and private outlets highlighting scale and historyOceaniaSituate the operation within the Houthis' history of withstanding prior attacks and highlight Iranian weapons support alongside market-related pressures.817historical resilience, Iranian support, widening crisis
Malaysian commentarySoutheast AsiaAn opinion piece frames Houthi attacks as testing the strategic patience of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan, suggesting a possible turning point.19strategic threshold, regional patience

What the coverage leaves out

  • None of the outlets reviewed provided an independent, verified casualty count for the overall offensive beyond the Taiz marketplace strike and the Saudi-reported airport injuries.
  • None of the outlets reviewed detailed the current, independently confirmed military map of who holds which specific territory along the coast.
  • None of the outlets reviewed reported a direct Saudi or coalition government response to the Houthi claims of striking Riyadh airport and the Aramco refinery beyond the interior ministry's filming warning.
  • None of the outlets reviewed explained the full details or timeline of the Pakistan and Turkey troop deployment referenced in one report.

Why it matters

Houthi control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait area, a key route for oil and global shipping, had previously sent shock waves through energy markets, and oil prices remain elevated amid fears of further disruption.27

The United Nations says the fighting has become the most active front in the wider West Asia war in recent weeks and has displaced more than 184,000 people.9

Commentary suggests Houthi attacks may be testing the strategic patience of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan, with Pakistan and Turkey reported to have agreed to deploy troops to Saudi Arabia.1419

What to watch

  • Whether Yemeni government forces consolidate reported control over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait or face further Houthi counterattacks around Taiz.
  • Further Houthi strikes on Saudi territory and any expanded Saudi or coalition military response.
  • Developments regarding reported Pakistani and Turkish troop deployments to Saudi Arabia.
  • Humanitarian conditions and displacement figures as the United Nations continues to track the conflict.

Sources (24)

Every outlet we drew on, grouped by where it is based. Read the originals for the full reporting.

Latin America

Europe

Oceania

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