81 Killed in Yemen Clashes as Houthis Advance Towards Strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait

At least 81 combatants have been killed in fresh clashes between Yemen’s Houthi rebels and Saudi-backed government forces, as the Iran-aligned group intensifies its push towards territory bordering the strategically important Bab al-Mandab Strait, military and medical sources said on Friday.

The fighting erupted on Thursday after Houthi forces launched a ground offensive supported by rocket and drone attacks in areas close to Yemen’s Red Sea coast and around Taiz. The latest escalation comes as the rebels seek to strengthen their position near Bab al-Mandab, a narrow maritime passage linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.

Military and medical sources said the clashes resulted in 81 deaths among combatants. Government forces have reportedly deployed additional reinforcements to Taiz from Aden following orders from Saudi Arabia, which backs Yemen’s internationally recognised government.

The Houthi offensive is reportedly aimed at cutting off the government-held port city of Mokha from other areas under government control. The port has faced repeated attacks in recent weeks. Houthi forces have also seized elevated positions overlooking government-held areas near the Red Sea coast and Taiz, according to military officials. The high ground is strategically significant because it could allow the Houthis to monitor or potentially target maritime traffic passing through the region. Bab al-Mandab is one of the world’s major shipping chokepoints and provides an important route between Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

The renewed fighting has raised concerns about the security of commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Houthi attacks on vessels in the region have already disrupted international maritime traffic, forcing some shipping operators to seek alternative routes.

The latest offensive comes after more than a decade of conflict between the Houthis and Yemen’s internationally recognised government. The Iran-backed rebels control large parts of northern and western Yemen, including the capital Sanaa. The Houthis have previously targeted commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea, particularly since the outbreak of the Gaza war in 2023. Their latest advance towards Bab al-Mandab could further increase tensions around one of the region’s most important maritime routes.