Story perspectives

Yemen’s government launches offensive to retake Bab al-Mandeb

By Drooid · Oct 6, 2026, 2:11 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Yemen's internationally recognized government launched an offensive on Monday to retake Bab al-Mandeb.
The Saudi-led coalition deployed 100 fighter jets to provide air support and claimed destroying hundreds of Houthi targets.
Yemeni officials reported recapturing Dhubab, Bab and Hadeid north of the strait.
Houthi rebels denied the gains and warned they could attack Saudi aircraft.
WHO reported at least 959 deaths and over 5,000 injuries since early August.

History

Historical Context

Operation Desert Storm’s air campaign began on 17 January 1991, when a U.S.-led coalition—including Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and France—flew more than 100,000 sorties and dropped 88,500 tons of bombs on Iraq and occupied Kuwait. That massive aerial effort demonstrated how air power can alter Middle-East balances, a pattern echoed today as the Saudi-backed coalition uses extensive air strikes to try to retake Yemen’s Bab al-Mandeb.

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Story summary

Yemen's internationally recognized government launched an offensive on Monday to retake Bab al-Mandeb.
The Saudi-led coalition deployed 100 fighter jets to provide air support and claimed destroying hundreds of Houthi targets.
Yemeni officials reported recapturing Dhubab, Bab and Hadeid north of the strait.
Houthi rebels denied the gains and warned they could attack Saudi aircraft.
WHO reported at least 959 deaths and over 5,000 injuries since early August.

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