Yemeni military says it has retaken Mokha and 'secured' Red Sea waterway

Yemen’s internationally recognised leadership has launched Operation Yemen Dawn, a campaign intended to regain territory controlled by the Houthi movement. The offensive began after the Houthis reportedly cut a key road near Taiz, isolating government forces and residents.

Pro-government forces, backed by Saudi Arabia, say they have secured the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a strategic passage at the Red Sea’s southern entrance. The military also reported taking Dhubab airport and surrounding Houthi fighters in a nearby town.

The status of Mokha remains unclear. Yemen’s military said it had retaken the city, while government and military sources cited by Reuters and AFP said forces had reached its outskirts and Houthi fighters were withdrawing.

The government says operations have opened on additional fronts, including around Sanaa, the capital held by the Houthis since the early stages of the 12-year civil war. The widening campaign follows Houthi attacks on Saudi targets, including Riyadh’s airport and an Aramco refinery, according to the group’s military spokesman.

Saudi allies Turkey and Pakistan agreed at a Riyadh meeting to send military forces to Saudi Arabia under a mutual defence pact, a joint statement said. Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdul Salam accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out deadly attacks, while UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned Houthi cross-border strikes and voiced concern about the fighting’s escalation. Further developments will depend on the progress of the government offensive and the response from the Houthis and their regional opponents.