The Yemeni Armed Forces have reportedly recaptured the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Zubab region and its airport, and the strategic city of Mokha as part of Operation “Yemen Dawn.” These gains came less than a month after Houthi militias reached the area following the disorderly withdrawal of some government forces, and were achieved with effective air support from the Saudi-led coalition.
During the operation, the Yemeni army launched surprise attacks on positions, fortifications, and new radar installations that the Houthis had set up with the help of Iranian Revolutionary Guard experts; the militias scattered in panic without engaging in combat. After the siege of Zubab’s port and airport, the Giants Brigade advanced to Perim (Mayyun) Island, in the heart of Bab el-Mandeb, and then northward to Mokha. Presidential Council Chairman Rashad el-Alimi declared that the ultimate goal is to retake Sanaa and extend the legitimate state’s sovereignty across all territories.
On the same day, clashes escalated in Taiz; dozens of Houthis were killed, wounded, or captured. The army advanced on Marib’s southern and western fronts, particularly in el-Kasara and in neighboring el-Cevf. The Houthis and their ally Iran were said to be aware of the developments but refused to comprehend Saudi Arabia’s moves. Dozens of airstrikes were carried out on military targets in Sanaa and various provinces, while residents expressed their hopes.
Why it matters
This operation shows that the line that fell into Houthi hands just a month ago, through the disorderly withdrawal of government forces, can be swiftly reversed; this demonstrates how fluid the front lines are and that there is no guarantee that gains on the ground will endure. The decisive role of the coalition’s air support once again underscores that the Yemeni army’s advance depends heavily on external backing. The targeting of radar installations set up by Iranian Revolutionary Guard experts is a reminder that the conflict is not merely a civil war but also carries a regional power-struggle dimension. El-Alimi’s goal of retaking Sanaa, meanwhile, sets the true benchmark for the gains: is the militias’ dispersal without putting up a fight a genuine collapse, or a tactical withdrawal? The simultaneous escalation of clashes in Taiz, Marib, and el-Cevf leaves open the question of whether the Houthis can hold multiple fronts at the same time.