Forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognised government are withdrawing from positions near the Bab al-Mandeb strait to concentrate on defending the interim capital, Aden, from the Houthi armed group, according to a Sunday announcement by the Southern Armed Forces. The redeployment from Dhubab airport and surrounding areas in southwestern Yemen raises the prospect of further Houthi advances towards Aden, the government’s base since the Houthis seized Sanaa more than a decade ago, while also highlighting the strategic importance of one of the world’s key maritime chokepoints.
Key Takeaways: Government-aligned Southern Armed Forces are redeploying from Dhubab airport and areas around Bab al-Mandeb; reinforcements are being sent to try to break the Houthi siege of Taiz; and the Houthis have released 600 prisoners with ICRC support.
The withdrawal comes after a September counteroffensive that quickly recaptured Dhubab and other positions around the strait but failed to dislodge Houthi fighters from Mocha and nearby coastal areas. The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, had seized large stretches of Yemen’s western coast in September and captured highland areas north of Aden, while saying they are preparing to advance on the city itself. Since the 2022 ceasefire collapsed this summer, fighting has surged, displacing about 300,000 people across Yemen; roughly half are in Taiz, where aid is blocked and civilians cannot leave, worsening humanitarian conditions in the country’s third-largest city.
A spokesman for the Southern Armed Forces said the step was taken based on the priority of securing Aden and neighbouring governorates, as well as strengthening front lines and addressing existing threats. Government spokesman Majid Al-Nazili called on the international community to help return Bab al-Mandeb and Yemen’s west coast to government control, stressing that the strait is vital for freedom of maritime navigation and international trade. Earlier Sunday, the Saudi-led coalition said it shot down two drones launched over the Mecca region, although the Houthis did not comment on the alleged attack; the Houthis had intensified drone and missile attacks on Saudi Arabia, grounding flights and targeting energy facilities. Separately, the International Committee of the Red Cross announced that the Houthis, with its support, unilaterally released 600 prisoners in connection with the armed conflict.
The redeployment may signal a setback for government forces and could shift the conflict’s focus toward Aden, where the government has operated since 2015. With Houthi forces pressing from the north and west, Taiz still under siege, and maritime routes near Bab al-Mandeb under renewed pressure, the coming weeks are likely to test whether reinforcements can stabilise the southern front and whether diplomatic or humanitarian efforts can ease conditions in besieged cities.
Source: www.aljazeera.com