Yemen government forces say they retook Zubab; Houthis say Bab al-Mandab fight ongoing
In short
Yemeni government forces attacked Houthi positions in the Zubab area overlooking the Bab al-Mandab strait on Oct 5, and military sources said the pro-government Giant Brigade and Homeland Shield forces retook the area with air support. The Yemeni government said it had taken control of the Bab al-Mandab international shipping route after the “Yemen Dawn” operation was announced, while Houthi sources told Xinhua that fighting for control of the strait was still going on. The operation was announced on Oct 4 in Riyadh by Rashad al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council.
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Yemeni government forces attacked Houthi positions in the Zubab area overlooking the Bab al-Mandab strait on Oct 5, according to two military sources cited in the reports. Jiemian reported the attack on Zubab town, citing Yemeni military sources, and said the government-affiliated Giant Brigade stated that its first units had arrived in the Bab al-Mandab area. [ 1 , 3 ]
By mid-afternoon, military sources said government forces had taken control of most of Zubab after clashes with the Houthis. Later reports said the pro-government Giant Brigade and Homeland Shield forces, with air support, had retaken the strategic Zubab area. Earlier reports said the two forces were advancing around the strait, fighting fierce battles in Zubab and coming close to completely cutting Houthi supply lines to the area. [ 2 , 4 , 6 ]
The Yemeni government said on Oct 5 that it had taken control of the Bab al-Mandab international shipping route shortly after the Presidential Leadership Council announced the “Yemen Dawn” operation, CLS reported. Houthi sources told Xinhua that the battle for control of the strait was still going on. Xinhua's own flashes reported the government counteroffensive near Bab al-Mandab and later said the government claimed control of the strait, without further detail. [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]
Zubab is a coastal town in Yemen's Taiz province, next to Bab al-Mandab and facing Perim Island across the water. The strait connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden and is described as a “throat” linking the Atlantic, the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean; controlling both Zubab and Perim Island is described as key to controlling the strait. Houthi forces entered Zubab on Sept 11, and Yemeni government forces withdrew from Perim Island. [ 3 , 6 ]
Rashad al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, said in Riyadh on Oct 4 that he was launching a military operation against the Houthis to retake territory under their control, and said he had ordered the armed forces, security agencies and allied military forces to carry out the plan. The reports do not give casualty figures or an independent account of who holds the ground at Bab al-Mandab. [ 3 , 4 , 6 ]
Why it matters
Zubab sits beside Bab al-Mandab, which the documents describe as the passage linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden and a key route between the Atlantic, the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean, so who holds the area affects international shipping. The two sides give different accounts of the outcome, leaving the status of the strait contested rather than settled. The operation follows Houthi forces entering Zubab on Sept 11, when government forces withdrew from Perim Island.
Key facts
- Yemeni government forces attacked Houthi positions in the Zubab area overlooking the Bab al-Mandab strait on Oct 5, according to military sources cited in the reports. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Military sources said government forces controlled most of Zubab after clashes, and the pro-government Giant Brigade and Homeland Shield forces said they retook the strategic Zubab area with air support. [ 2 , 4 , 6 ]
- The Giant Brigade said its first units had reached the Bab al-Mandab area. [ 3 ]
- The Yemeni government said it controlled the Bab al-Mandab international shipping route shortly after the “Yemen Dawn” operation was announced; Houthi sources said the battle for control of the strait continued. [ 7 , 9 ]
- Presidential Leadership Council chairman Rashad al-Alimi announced the military operation on Oct 4 in Riyadh, saying he had ordered the armed forces, security agencies and allied forces to carry out the plan to recover areas recently taken by the Houthis. [ 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- Zubab is a coastal town in Taiz province next to Bab al-Mandab and across the water from Perim Island; controlling Zubab and Perim is described as key to controlling the strait. [ 3 , 6 ]
- Houthi forces entered Zubab on Sept 11 and Yemeni government forces withdrew from Perim Island. [ 3 , 6 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Rashad al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, announced a military operation on Oct 4 in Riyadh to recover areas recently controlled by the Houthis. [ 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- Pro-government forces including the Giant Brigade and Homeland Shield said they retook the Zubab area overlooking Bab al-Mandab with air support. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- The Yemeni government said it controlled the Bab al-Mandab shipping route after the “Yemen Dawn” operation was announced, while Houthi sources said fighting for control of the strait continued. [ 7 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]
Still unclear
- Whether government forces fully control Bab al-Mandab The Yemeni government said it controlled the strait, while Houthi sources said the battle for control was still under way; the documents do not resolve the difference.
- Whether Zubab is fully or only mostly under government control One report said government forces controlled most of the area after clashes, while later reports said the area had been retaken.
- Casualties and the scale of the fighting None of the documents give casualty figures or details beyond descriptions of clashes and air support.
- Independent verification of the military accounts The reports rest on military sources on the government side, pro-government forces' statements and Houthi sources, with no independent confirmation in the documents.
- Details of the “Yemen Dawn” operation beyond its announcement The documents say the operation was announced and that orders were issued, but do not describe its plan or scope.
- Zubab is a coastal town in Taiz province on the Bab al-Mandab strait, and Houthi forces entered it on Sept 11. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- CLS reports, citing two military sources, that Yemeni government forces attacked Houthi positions in the Zubab area overlooking Bab al-Mandab. [ 1 ]
- Military sources say government forces controlled most of Zubab after clashes with the Houthis. [ 2 ]
- Jiemian reports the attack on Zubab town and the Giant Brigade's statement that its first units had reached the Bab al-Mandab area. [ 3 ]
- CLS reports that the pro-government Giant Brigade and Homeland Shield forces retook the strategic Zubab area with air support, after reports of fierce clashes and a near-complete cut of Houthi supply lines. [ 4 , 6 ]
- The Yemeni government says it controlled the Bab al-Mandab shipping route shortly after the “Yemen Dawn” operation was announced; Houthi sources say the battle for the strait continues. [ 7 , 9 ]
- Xinhua reports that Yemeni government forces counterattacked the Houthis near Bab al-Mandab. [ 8 ]
- Xinhua reports that the government claims control of Bab al-Mandab. [ 10 ]
- Xinhua repeats that the government claims control of Bab al-Mandab. [ 11 ]