Yemen government says its forces retook Dhubab near Bab el-Mandeb from Houthis

The military of Yemen's internationally recognised government says its forces have seized the Dhubab district and key positions near the Bab el-Mandeb strait from the Houthis. Al Jazeera, Anadolu and Reuters all carried the claim. What is confirmed is that the claim was made, not the outcome on the ground.

Al Jazeera said it could not independently verify the battlefield reports. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi include no Houthi response.

The government forces are described as Saudi-backed. The Houthis are described as Iran-backed by Reuters and Iran-aligned by Al Jazeera. The Houthis made territorial advances in September 2026, which government forces are now trying to reverse.

What the reports say

According to Al Jazeera, the army statement was carried by Yemen's news agency Saba on Monday. Al Jazeera quoted the statement as saying: "Forces from the Homeland Shield Forces and the Giants Brigades carried out a large-scale military operation with air cover targeting Houthi militia positions and movements in several areas of the district".

According to Al Jazeera, Rashad al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, announced on Sunday the start of military operations to retake the remaining Houthi-held territory. Government forces later announced a "strategic offensive" on Sanaa, Al Jazeera reported. The reports give no detail on its scope or progress.

Al Jazeera also reported that the Houthis seized the port city of Mocha and strategic islands in the strait in mid-September. The reports do not say who holds them now.

What is disputed

The reports record no direct dispute, as no Houthi account is included. The extent of the claimed gains is unclear. An Anadolu headline says government forces claim control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait itself. Al Jazeera and a separate Anadolu headline describe Dhubab and positions near the strait. Reuters, without naming Dhubab, reports a district by the strait and key positions on it.

What each side says

• Yemeni army source: According to Al Jazeera, an unnamed army source told Saba: "During the operation, they advanced and seized important positions – cutting off supply lines and roads leading to Bab al-Mandeb". The source said the Houthis lost many fighters. The reports give no casualty figures for either side.
• Reuters sources: Military and government sources cited by Reuters said Saudi-backed forces seized key positions on the strait.
• Saudi-led coalition: According to Al Jazeera, spokesman Major General Turki al-Maliki said 100 fighter jets are supporting Yemeni forces and that hundreds of Houthi targets were destroyed. These figures are not corroborated in the reports.
• Pakistan: According to Al Jazeera, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Saudi Arabia for talks with Saudi and Turkish officials under the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, signed on 7 August. Dar said last week that the talks would address a proposal for political engagement with the Houthis as an alternative to the military option, following an approach by Tehran, Al Jazeera reported. The reports do not describe the outcome of the talks.

Background

According to Al Jazeera, Yemen has been at war since the Houthis seized Sanaa in 2014. A truce struck in 2022 collapsed in July.

Analysis

All accounts of the claimed advance trace to Yemeni government or military sources, so its real extent remains uncertain. If the claims hold, control of territory near a major maritime passage could shift; if they are overstated or reversed, the front lines may change little. Two tracks appear to be running in parallel: an announced military push, including towards Sanaa, and talks in Riyadh where Pakistan says a proposal for political engagement with the Houthis is on the table. Which track prevails is not clear from the reports, which include no information on shipping effects; Al Jazeera's Michael Appel said the expanded operation leaves tens of thousands facing continued displacement and hunger.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.