Full Breakdown
Escalating Battles Near Yemen’s Bab al-Mandeb Strait
9/5/2026, 10:50:06 AM
Recent Offensive and Territorial Shifts
In the past several days, Houthi forces launched a broad ground offensive from the southwest, targeting high ground and coastal positions that overlook the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Yemeni government troops recaptured the strategically important al-Khazan and al-Makahna hills in the Jabal Habashi district west of Taiz, according to a government statement. The Houthis, an Iran-backed militia, have also seized a military base in western Taiz, while fighting continues in the governorates of Taiz and Hodeidah. Colonel Abdul Basit al-Baher, a Yemeni army officer, said the militia’s moves aim to reach the port city of Mokha, located less than 50 miles from the strait.
Casualties and Human Toll
Both sides have suffered significant losses. A Houthi source told Al Jazeera that more than 100 fighters have been killed since the offensive began on Thursday. Yemeni military officials reported 24 government troops killed near the west coast and an additional 15 in Taiz, while medical sources in Houthi-controlled areas said at least 42 Houthi fighters were dead. The AFP news agency tallied 129 deaths as of Friday, and an AFP casualty toll cited over 120 killed since the Houthis’ advance. Independent reports from DPA placed casualties in the dozens on each side, estimating roughly 60 deaths per side.
Strategic Importance of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait
Control of the high ground around Mokha and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait would give the Houthis leverage over a chokepoint that links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea. Mohammed al-Basha of the US-based risk advisory Basha Report told AFP that capturing the strait or Mokha port would improve the Houthis’ negotiating position with the Yemeni government and Saudi Arabia. Analysts note that disruptions at this waterway could affect global trade and oil markets.
Official and Analyst Perspectives
The Yemeni government, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, frames the offensive as a violation of a fragile truce that collapsed in July. The Houthis have declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia and have previously targeted Saudi tankers in the Red Sea. Analysts highlight that the strait’s significance has risen as traffic through the Strait of Hormuz faces restrictions, making any instability in Yemen more consequential for international shipping.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Casualty figures differ among sources: Al Jazeera cites “more than 100” fighters killed, AFP reports 129 total deaths, and DPA estimates roughly 60 deaths per side. No official casualty numbers have been released by either the Yemeni government or the Houthi leadership, leaving the full human cost of the latest fighting unclear.
