Yemeni Forces Retake Strategic Town Dhubab Near Bab el-Mandeb

Aspen —Saudi-backed Yemeni forces have retaken the crucial town of Dhubab, located just north of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, according to Yemeni officials speaking Monday. This strategic victory marks a significant shift in the conflict along Yemen’s western coast, where the Red Sea meets the Gulf of Aden. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to reporters, confirmed that government-aligned troops also captured the nearby towns of Bab and Hadeid. Witnesses in the area described seeing government tanks and soldiers entering the settlements, signaling a tangible presence on the ground rather than a mere administrative claim.

The offensive was launched early Monday under the air cover of a Saudi military coalition, which reportedly deployed 100 fighter jets to provide support. Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki, the coalition’s spokesman, stated that the operation secured "air protection" for the strait and destroyed hundreds of Houthi targets. This military push coincides with escalating Houthi claims of attacks on Saudi infrastructure. Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, the Houthis’ military spokesman, issued a pre-recorded statement alleging that rebels used ballistic and cruise missiles and drones to strike King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and an oil refinery in the Red Sea city of Rabigh. Saree also claimed attacks on Abha airport, military facilities in Khamis Mushait, and other "critical sites" in Najran and Jizan.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the coordination between Washington and Riyadh, noting that while the two nations share a defense agreement, he would not offer further details on the specific planning involved. Rubio asserted that since the Yemeni government had been ousted from parts of its territory and the Saudis faced direct attacks, "they have a right to defend themselves." Behind the scenes, U.S. support for the campaign has included intelligence sharing, target identification, and planning assistance, according to regional and U.S. officials who also spoke anonymously. The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh has warned American citizens on social media to remain vigilant about the possibility of drone or missile strikes. The timing of this government advance is particularly notable given that it occurred just after the Houthis announced they had seized additional territory in southwestern Yemen, capturing a key town in a move that threatened a strategic provincial capital. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait remains a vital artery for global shipping, and its control continues to dictate the pace of the war. The dust from the advancing tanks in Dhubab has yet to settle, leaving the horizon clear but tense.