Yemen forces retake Mocha, key positions from Houthis

Yemen’s officially recognized government forces have taken back the important port city of Mocha and key areas close to the Bab El Mandeb Strait as they continue a major push against the Iran-backed Houthis, the military announced.

The military reported on Monday that their forces also regained control of the Dhubab area in Taiz province and took over important positions near the Bab El Mandeb, a vital route for global oil supplies.

They also started a “strategic offensive” aimed at Sanaa, the Houthi-controlled capital since 2014.

Fighting was happening in several places around Mocha, with many Houthi fighters either dead, injured, or captured, according to military sources.

No specific numbers were given for how many people were hurt or killed.

The Saudi-backed government forces said that troops from the Homeland Shield Forces and Giants Brigades carried out a big operation with air support against the Houthis in several areas of Dhubab, according to Al Jazeera.

An unnamed military source said the forces had moved forward and taken key positions, blocking supply roads and routes to Bab El Mandeb.

The source added that the Houthis, also called Ansar Allah, lost many fighters in the fighting, and several military vehicles and weapons were destroyed or damaged.

Government forces are still working to hold the areas they have taken back and block the Houthi supply lines, according to the government-aligned Saba news agency.

These events happened as the Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen’s government carried out an air strike campaign against the Houthis.

Coalition spokesperson Major General Turki Al Maliki said 100 fighter jets were helping Yemen’s government forces.

He said the coalition had ensured “air protection” over the Bab El Mandeb Strait and destroyed hundreds of Houthi targets.

The Houthis had taken over Mocha in western Taiz province during a quick attack in September, followed by control of areas around the Bab El Mandeb Strait.

The group has held Sanaa and much of Yemen’s northwest since 2014.

The latest fighting is happening amid the US-Israeli war with Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, with the Houthis restarting attacks on the Saudi-backed Yemeni government.