Yemen government claims control of strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait

Yemen's internationally recognized government announced on Tuesday that its military forces have established control over the Dhubab region, which commands views of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, one of the world's most vital maritime passages linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.

The government's assertion comes amid ongoing territorial disputes in Yemen's civil conflict, where Houthi insurgents continue to contest state authority across large swathes of the country. The strait's strategic importance lies in its role as a global shipping corridor, through which hundreds of millions of barrels of oil transit annually, making control of adjacent territory significant for both military positioning and economic leverage.

Houthi-run media outlets have rejected the government's claims, asserting that their forces maintain a strong presence in the Dhubab area and that no meaningful territorial advances have been achieved by state forces. The competing narratives reflect the broader pattern of claim and counter-claim that has characterized the Yemeni conflict, where verification of military positions and gains remains challenging.

The Bab al-Mandab Strait has become an increasingly sensitive flashpoint in regional tensions, with multiple actors competing for influence over the waterway. Control of surrounding territory provides strategic leverage over international shipping and reflects broader efforts by both government and opposition forces to consolidate power in Yemen's fractured landscape.