Yemen war: What’s the latest on the battlefield?
Conflicting claims surround advances by Saudi-backed forces near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and Houthi attacks on Saudi targets.
TL;DR
- Saudi-backed Yemeni forces said they had retaken positions near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait from Houthi forces.
- Houthi forces separately claimed attacks on Saudi airports, oil infrastructure and military sites.
- Reports differed on the extent of the government-aligned forces’ gains, including whether the port city of Mocha had changed hands.
Al Jazeera’s explainer, citing AP and Reuters, says Saudi-backed forces claimed several strategic positions near Bab el-Mandeb while the Houthis claimed strikes on Saudi targets. The claims have not been independently resolved in the cited coverage. [1] [3]
The BBC reported that Yemeni military sources said the waterway was secured, while earlier Associated Press reporting described the recapture of nearby towns and continuing Houthi claims. The accounts underline uncertainty over control on the western coast. [1] [2] [3]
Why it matters
Bab el-Mandeb links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, making disputed control relevant to regional security and commercial shipping; the current reports leave the battlefield picture unsettled.
Editor's note
Claims by combatants and government-aligned sources remain contested; the edition does not treat territorial claims as independently verified.