The Houthis, supported by Iran, launched a large-scale attack in the west of Yemen in recent days, establishing control over an area of about 2.6 thousand square kilometers. During five days of fighting, they captured the Red Sea port city of Mokha, located 60-75 kilometers from the strategic Bab el-Mandeb strait, as well as several districts and the Khalid bin Walid military camp.
In the background of the attack, the Houthis attacked the southern cities of Saudi Arabia with missiles and drones, as a result of which, according to media reports, at least 73 people were injured. Riyadh responded with airstrikes on Houthi positions in several provinces of Yemen.
At the same time, in the north-east of the country, government forces supported by Saudi Arabia and Tariq Saleh's National Resistance have announced an advance against the Houthis in Al-Jawf and Al-Bayda regions.
The Strait of Bab el-Mandeb gained special strategic importance after the start of the US-Israeli war against Iran, becoming an alternative route to partially compensate for the interruption of oil supplies due to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. According to Reuters, the establishment of full control over this waterway by the Houthis could give Tehran an important military advantage and trigger a sharp increase in oil prices.
