Yemeni government forces have launched a major operation against the Iran-backed Houthis, claiming control of Dhubab airport and large parts of Dhubab district. The campaign is focused on weakening Houthi positions near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea coast.
The Saudi-led coalition said about 100 fighter jets took part and that 324 high-value targets were struck. Yemen's military separately said it had carried out more than 1,000 strikes against Houthi sites.
According to the military claims, targets included artillery and rocket-launcher positions, defensive locations, supply routes and logistics facilities. Roads used to move Houthi fighters and reinforcements were also targeted.
Bab al-Mandeb focus
The Yemeni forces said the operation includes an encirclement campaign aimed at securing the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The Saudi-led coalition is providing air cover for government forces on the ground and aerial protection around the strait.
Bab al-Mandeb is a major international sea route. Fighting in the surrounding area therefore has implications beyond the immediate battlefield, according to the supplied report.
The government forces said they gained control over much of Dhubab district after clashes with the Houthis. The report says the Houthis had strengthened their hold over parts of the Red Sea coast and areas near Bab al-Mandeb about 1 month earlier, following a rapid military push in September.
Houthi pressure around Taiz
The offensive has not ended Houthi advances elsewhere. Reuters reported that the group had surrounded Taiz from several directions and cut the main supply road linking the city with Aden.
Taiz remains under government control, but Houthi pressure on the city continues, the report said.
The conflict has also extended into Saudi Arabia. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed that the group used ballistic missiles and drones to attack Saudi Aramco facilities in Riyadh and the Khurais area on 4 October. He said large fires broke out at both locations after the attacks.
The latest claims describe simultaneous fighting around Bab al-Mandeb and the Red Sea, continued Houthi pressure on Taiz, and attacks claimed against Saudi energy facilities.
