Houthis control entire western coast of Yemen after seizing Bab al-Mandab Strait
Aden (ANTARA) - The Yemeni Houthi group on Friday (11/9) has taken control of the entire western coast of Yemen and expanded its attacks beyond the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait into Lahj Province in the southern region, firing ballistic missiles towards retreating government forces, according to government and military officials.
On Friday morning, Houthi forces stormed Mayun Island, also known as Perim Island, located in the heart of the Bab al-Mandab Strait which divides the narrow waterway into two shipping lanes, after government forces withdrew the previous night, a government official told Xinhua.
“Houthi naval forces using a number of boats arrived at Mayun on Friday morning. They landed on the island and took control without military resistance,” the official said, noting that the Houpthi group now holds full control over the Bab al-Mandab area.
This advancement follows the Houthi group’s seizure of Mocha, a strategic port city in the Red Sea, southwestern Yemen, on Thursday (10/9).
“After strengthening control over Bab al-Mandab as well as various coastal areas and important islands within and around the strait, the Houthi group is now pressing further south,” a Yemeni military official said on Friday on condition of anonymity.
Government forces have retreated to Khor Omeira in Lahj, approximately 90 km west of Aden, which serves as the temporary centre for the internationally recognised Yemeni government on the southern coast, the official stated. He added that the troops were undergoing re-consolidation with no clear indication of their next steps.
Residents in Khor Omeira reported signs of chaos among the retreating government forces, with some soldiers reportedly selling their weapons at low prices and others discarding their uniforms before heading towards Aden.
As the frontline moves closer to Aden, security forces are reinforcing the western entrances to the city, according to a local security official.
In a statement broadcast by the Houthi-run al-Masirah television on Friday, Houthi spokesperson Yahya Sarea stated that the group’s offensive, launched on 3 September, has captured an area of approximately 5,400 square kilometres in western Yemen.
He also claimed that Houthi forces were involved in 32 battles with Saudi Arabian fighter jets and shot down nine aircraft. These claims cannot be independently verified.
Responding to concerns regarding the security of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, Sarea stated that international maritime traffic remains “safe,” while reaffirming that Saudi Arabian ships remain subject to restrictions imposed by the Houthis.
The Houthi group announced a ban on Saudi Arabian shipping on 20 July and has since claimed a series of attacks against Saudi tankers and oil facilities in Saudi Arabia.
The Bab al-Mandab Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, is a primary route for international trade and energy shipments.
Yemen has been embroiled in conflict since late 2014, when the Houthi group seized the capital, Sanaa, and much of the northern part of the country. This rapid Houthi advance marks the sharpest escalation since the UN-mediated ceasefire in 2022, which largely halted large-scale fighting.