Yemen’s government claims a major battlefield gain as Saudi-backed forces target strategic positions near Bab al-Mandeb amid escalating regional tensions.

Yemen government forces have reportedly Mocha recaptured from Houthis, along with key positions near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, as Saudi-backed forces launch a wider counteroffensive aimed at reversing Houthi territorial gains and reopening strategic routes. Al Jazeera reported.

Mocha Becomes Key Battleground

Yemen’s internationally recognized government said its forces regained control of Mocha, a strategically important Red Sea port, after fierce clashes with Houthi fighters. Government forces also reported taking Dhubab, Bab and Hadeid, strengthening their position near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

However, the Houthis rejected the claim that Mocha had fallen. A Houthi official said fighters were still moving through the city, while independent verification of the competing battlefield claims remained unavailable.

The fighting forms part of a broader campaign launched after Houthi forces made significant advances along Yemen’s western coast.

Saudi Coalition Escalates Military Support

The Saudi-led coalition has intensified its involvement by providing air support to the government offensive. Coalition spokesperson Major General Turki al-Malki said around 100 fighter jets were supporting Yemeni forces and that hundreds of Houthi targets had been struck.

The Saudi-backed operation is also reportedly targeting areas around Sanaa, the Houthi-controlled capital. President of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Rashad al-Alimi has described the campaign as an effort to restore state institutions and recover territory held by the Houthis.

The escalation has also drawn wider regional attention. Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan agreed to activate collective deterrence measures and prepare for military deployments to Saudi Arabia under their defence agreement.

Houthi Attacks Raise Regional Risks

The Houthis have claimed missile and drone attacks against several Saudi targets, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, an oil refinery in Rabigh, Abha airport and military facilities. Saudi authorities had not independently confirmed all of the reported attacks.

The latest escalation has renewed concerns over the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, one of the world’s most important maritime passages connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Any prolonged disruption could affect international shipping and energy transportation.

The conflict has also created a growing humanitarian burden. According to figures cited by the World Health Organization, the latest violence has killed at least 959 people and injured more than 4,200, while more than 174,000 people have been displaced within Yemen.

According to NDTV, the renewed fighting follows years of conflict that began when the Houthis seized Sanaa in 2014. Analysts say control of territories around Taiz and other central areas could ultimately prove more important than battlefield gains along the coast.

Thus, Business Fortune believes that Yemen’s escalating conflict could reshape regional security, shipping routes, and the fragile balance of power.

Sources: https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/saudi-backed-yemeni-forces-expel-houthis-from-several-areas-around-key-strait-12144143  https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/5/yemen-forces-claim-to-seize-dhubab-sites-near-bab-al-mandeb-from-houthis