Arab media, including Al Arabiya and Asharq al-Awsat, reported that after completing the clearance operations of the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the strategic island of Mayyun, Yemen’s government forces have taken full control of this area from the Houthis and have consolidated their positions in the high ground overlooking this important shipping route.

Asharq al-Awsat wrote that the “Al-Amalqa” brigades and the Dur’at al-Watan forces, with air support from the alliance backing the government of Yemen, have taken control of Bab al-Mandab, the island of Mayyun, the Al-‘Ardi camp, the coastal guard’s observation positions, and the surrounding heights around the strait.

Bab al-Mandab lies at the southern entrance to the Red Sea and is one of the important international shipping routes.

Securing government forces’ control over this area could strengthen their position on the country’s western coast.

Military sources told Asharq al-Awsat that government forces, in a surprise operation, crossed the defensive forward lines of the Houthis and reached their bunkers and tunnels.

These sources said that dozens of Houthis were killed during the clashes, and others were captured.