Yemen government forces retake strategic positions near Bab al-Mandeb Strait

Government forces aligned with Yemen's internationally recognised administration said they have retaken the town of Dhubab and strategic positions in proximity to the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a vital waterway connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. The advances mark a territorial shift in an ongoing conflict that has devastated Yemen's civilian population and disrupted global maritime commerce. The claimed gains come as officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey prepare to meet, suggesting potential diplomatic developments in efforts to address the regional conflict. The Bab al-Mandeb Strait remains one of the world's most important maritime chokepoints, with millions of barrels of oil and significant volumes of general cargo transiting through its waters daily. Control of positions near the strait has long been strategically significant for competing factions in Yemen's conflict. The Houthis, a Yemen-based militant group backed by Iran, have previously used their control of Red Sea territory to launch attacks on commercial shipping and military vessels. The reported military gains by government forces underscore the dynamic nature of the conflict, which has drawn involvement from multiple regional and international actors over the past several years.