Saudi-led coalition intensifies Yemen offensive to secure Bab-el-Mandeb strait
The Saudi Arabia-backed Yemeni government has intensified its military campaign to retake key coastal areas around the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, a critical maritime route for oil exports. The offensive, launched on Monday, aims to push back the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who seized control of several strategic locations last month. The fighting has drawn active participation from Pakistan and Turkey, both signatories of the Mecca Pact with Saudi Arabia, which mandates mutual defense in case of an attack.
Yemen's armed forces reported reclaiming the Red Sea city of Mocha, a significant gain in the broader effort to secure the Bab-el-Mandeb strait. The Houthis had captured Mocha in September, escalating tensions and ending a 2022 ceasefire. The Saudi-led coalition also conducted naval operations in the Red Sea governorate of Hodeidah, seizing key positions, including an airstrip in the Dhubab district. However, these claims could not be independently verified.
The Houthis have retaliated with attacks on key Saudi locations, including the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, an Aramco refinery in Rabigh, and the Abha international airport. The veracity of these claims remains unconfirmed. The renewed conflict has displaced 184,000 people and drawn criticism from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who condemned the escalation and cross-border attacks on Saudi Arabia.
The defense ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan held an emergency meeting in Riyadh, agreeing to deploy military forces to defend against Houthi attacks. The coalition has pledged air support with 100 fighter jets to assist Yemeni ground forces. The trio also denounced the Houthis for targeting Islam's holiest sites, Mecca and Medina. Meanwhile, Saudi Aramco chief executive Amin Nasser warned that global oil stockpiles are critically low, raising concerns over energy supply and fuel prices.