Houthi Forces Control Dhabab District Overlooking Bab al-Mandeb Strait

On Friday morning, forces from the Houthi militia entered Dhabab district, overlooking the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and belonging to Taiz governorate, one day after seizing Al-Mukha port, enabling them to threaten maritime navigation in the southern Red Sea.

According to local sources cited by "Al-Araby News", government forces retreated to the outskirts of Lahj governorate, while the Yemeni army declared Dhabab and Al-Mukha districts as closed military operation zones, requesting civilians not to travel along roads connecting these areas to other regions.

As per the same sources, the retreating government forces have gathered in Ra's al-‘Ara district, also near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, where they are currently reorganizing and formulating a military plan to reclaim the districts lost during clashes over the past two weeks.

With this expansion, the Houthis can now threaten maritime traffic through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, as the district directly overlooks the maritime passage and the island of Mayun located in its center, which hosts a military garrison of southern forces.

A local Yemeni government official had earlier on Friday acknowledged that Houthis entered the island of Barim, locally known as "Mayun," completing their control over the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

French news agency AFP reported a government military official stating that the Houthis "are advancing toward Bab al-Mandeb" after capturing Al-Mukha, adding that militia fighters had entered the city.

The official also said the Houthis had seized the Yemeni island of Zaqar in the southern Red Sea, noting the offensive began with missile strikes followed by a ground assault using boats carrying fighters.