【Houthi Forces Advance Toward the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, Fighting Intensifies】
According to AFP, Houthi forces are advancing toward the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. On September 3, they launched rocket and drone attacks on major military positions held by the Yemeni government along the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea coast. The conflict has escalated, with reports indicating that 66 Yemeni government soldiers and 62 Houthi fighters have been killed during these clashes.
Meanwhile, sources within the Yemeni military told AFP that the Houthis are targeting the Red Sea city of Mocha, attempting to cut off this key port’s communication channels with the outside world. They also plan to seize high ground overlooking the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, enabling them to directly threaten shipping routes in both the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
In fact, there is a common misconception among observers who often believe that the Houthis control the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Iran has frequently threatened to disrupt shipping through the strait. However, a quick look at the map reveals that the Houthis are still some distance away from the strait. They only control a stretch of coastline in western Yemen, centered around Hudaydah. In reality, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and most of Yemen’s coastline remain under government control. Currently, the Yemeni government controls key cities like Mocha and Aden, which directly command the strategic entrance to the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
Nevertheless, despite controlling only a portion of the coastline, the Houthis continue to pose significant challenges to global maritime traffic thanks to their asymmetric warfare capabilities. This presents new difficulties for the United States and Saudi Arabia. If the Houthis manage to push closer to the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, their influence over Red Sea shipping issues will significantly increase.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1875494698682380/
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