Saudi Arabia and Yemeni government forces launched a major offensive on October 5 to retake strategic areas along the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, following a rapid Houthi militia advance last month that gave the Iran-backed group control over key coastal positions. The Bab el-Mandeb, located at the southern end of the Red Sea, is a critical maritime chokepoint for global energy shipments, linking the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean. The renewed fighting marks a significant escalation in Yemen's ongoing civil war, with broader implications amid the protracted U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.

The Yemeni government, backed by heavy Saudi air strikes, reported securing key positions along the coast, including the Dhubab airstrip and the city of Mocha (Mokha), cutting off important Houthi-held routes. Yemen’s Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani told Reuters that government forces had effective control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, though fighting continued near military bases in the area. Video footage circulated on social media showed pro-government militias near Dhubab Airport. The Yemeni military announced “Operation Yemen Dawn,” with over 1,100 military actions reportedly targeting Houthi positions to reclaim lost territory.

The Saudi-led coalition, which has supported the Yemeni government since 2015, conducted extensive air strikes, with a coalition spokesperson reporting that 100 warplanes took part in raids targeting weapons depots, naval mines, and other strategic sites used by the Houthis. The coalition’s operations aim to restore Yemeni government control over the Red Sea coast, protect vital shipping lanes, and end attacks on Saudi territory.

The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen including the capital Sanaa, dismissed claims of significant government gains as unfounded, warning that any Saudi air operations over their territory would face retaliation. In response to the offensive, the Houthis claimed to have launched missile and drone attacks on multiple Saudi targets, including airports and military bases in Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, and Khamis Mushait, though these claims could not be independently verified.

Meanwhile, the Houthis made advances near the city of Taiz in southwestern Yemen, reportedly capturing parts of a mountain road that threatened to besiege government forces there. Taiz, Yemen’s third-largest city, has been a focal point of fighting for years and remains contested. Conflicting reports emerged about the exact status of supply routes near Taiz, reflecting the fluidity of frontlines.

The conflict arises against the backdrop of a fragile ceasefire that held from 2022 until July 2026, when hostilities resumed amid wider regional tensions. The Yemeni government, supported heavily by Saudi Arabia and allied states, declared a full-scale war against the Houthis with President Rashad al-Alimi vowing to fight “until the country is liberated.” Saudi Arabia, which has endured repeated Houthi attacks on its territory and energy infrastructure—including strikes on the East-West Pipeline—has sought assistance from allies such as Turkey and Pakistan through the Mecca defense pact. Officials from these countries met in Riyadh to discuss rapid deployment of military forces and enhanced capabilities to support Saudi defense.

The United States continues to provide support in a non-combat role, assisting with intelligence analysis, targeting and aerial refueling of Saudi warplanes, although direct U.S. airstrikes have been declined by President Trump. Britain and France have also pledged logistical support to protect Saudi energy infrastructure.

The ongoing hostilities have exacerbated Yemen’s humanitarian crisis. The UN migration agency reported that at least 184,000 people have been displaced since the fighting resumed. Access to fuel and basic goods remains limited, especially in besieged areas like Taiz, compounding civilian hardship amid one of the world’s worst humanitarian emergencies.

As the conflict intensifies, the strategic importance of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait places increasing pressure on regional and global markets, already unsettled by Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and the broader Middle East geopolitical instability. While the Yemeni government and its Saudi allies seek to roll back Houthi gains, analysts caution that the complex military and political landscape, including fractured anti-Houthi factions and Houthi resilience, pose significant challenges to a decisive outcome in the near term.