Yemeni government forces have made advances against Houthi fighters in the vicinity of the Bab al-Mandab strait, military officials said Wednesday, though control of the strategic waterway remains contested. The developments come amid a broader counter-offensive launched last week by the Saudi-backed Yemeni government aimed at regaining territory lost to the Iran-aligned Houthi movement.

The Bab al-Mandab strait, a key maritime chokepoint at the southern entrance to the Red Sea, has been under Houthi control since the group rapidly seized Yemen’s entire western coastline in recent weeks. Government forces report progress in areas around the strait but have yet to fully secure the route or important nearby islands.

Houthi officials confirmed the government’s attempted advance near Bab al-Mandab but stated their forces successfully repelled the attack. Hizam al-Asad, a member of the Houthi political bureau, said Saudi-led forces moved from the Ras al-Ara area in Lahj governorate toward positions south of the strait. However, he claimed Houthi fighters inflicted significant personnel and equipment losses on the attacking forces, forcing them to withdraw.

Al-Asad maintained that Houthi forces remain in control of Bab al-Mandab, Mayun Island, which lies within the strait, and other parts of Yemen’s western coastal region. Yemeni military sources also confirmed that Mayun Island continues to be held by the Houthis.

The government’s counter-offensive reflects ongoing efforts to reverse recent Houthi territorial gains. The group’s swift capture of Yemen’s western coastline raised concerns over control of vital maritime routes and intensified the conflict dynamics in the region. Both sides continue to contest key areas near the strait, underscoring the fragile and volatile security situation in southwestern Yemen.