Yemen military claims control of strategic Red Sea strait

Yemeni pro-government forces backed by Saudi Arabia have announced they have "secured" the Bab al-Mandab Strait at the southern entrance to the Red Sea, a critical shipping corridor connecting global trade routes. The military claim comes as part of a broad offensive against the Iran-aligned Houthi movement, which has controlled significant portions of northern Yemen for years.

In a statement, the Yemeni military said forces had captured the Red Sea port city of Mokha as part of the ongoing operation. The offensive represents an intensification of efforts to wrest control of key strategic areas from Houthi fighters, who have maintained a strong presence in Yemen's most populous regions.

The Bab al-Mandab Strait is one of the world's most important maritime chokepoints, with millions of barrels of oil and other goods passing through the waterway daily en route between the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. Control of the passage has long held strategic importance for regional powers seeking to influence Middle Eastern geopolitics and global trade flows.

The Saudi-led military coalition has supported Yemen's internationally recognized government in its struggle against the Houthis since 2015. The conflict has devastated the country's economy and infrastructure, displacing millions of civilians and creating what the United Nations has described as a humanitarian crisis.