Yemeni Forces Claim Control of Mokha, Securing Red Sea Access

Pro-government forces in Yemen have announced that they have regained control of the crucial Red Sea port city of Mokha. This move is part of a broader offensive aimed at dismantling the influence of the Iran-aligned Houthi movement. The Yemeni military reported that units from the National Shield, Giants Brigades, and Tihama Resistance played significant roles in the recapture, supported by Saudi air strikes.

In addition to Mokha, the military claimed to have seized Dhubab airport located approximately 45 kilometres (27 miles) south. Combat operations are reportedly taking place along multiple fronts, including attempts to capture the Houthi-controlled capital, Sanaa. These forces are also alleging that they have besieged Houthi positions in nearby areas.

The Houthi movement has yet to comment on these claims, though their media outlets have contested the reports of territorial losses, particularly in Dhubab. As the military campaign escalates, the Saudi Arabia-led coalition supporting Yemeni government troops has stated that significant aerial support has been provided. To date, they claim to have targeted and destroyed 324 crucial military assets belonging to the Houthi forces since the operation commenced.

The situation on the ground remains tense. Reports from Houthi-controlled media indicate that air strikes in Sanaa resulted in civilian casualties, including the deaths of a schoolgirl and a woman. Mohammed Abdul Salam, a spokesperson for the Houthi movement, condemned these attacks, accusing Saudi forces of committing severe atrocities.

In a related development, the Houthi-run Humanitarian Operations Co-ordination Centre has issued warnings to civilian airlines, declaring that Saudi airspace is now unsafe for operations, except for the areas above Mecca and Medina, citing it as a military operational zone.

On Sunday, Rashad al-Alimi, head of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, formally announced the launch of a military initiative titled 'Operation Yemen Dawn.' This offensive aims to reclaim all territory currently controlled by the Houthis. Al-Alimi stated that diplomatic channels for de-escalation had been exhausted, urging all military units to fully engage in the campaign to eliminate the Houthi presence.

The renewed offensive comes after Houthis reportedly cut off a mountain route near the city of Taiz, leading to increased isolation for both government forces and local civilians. Additionally, the Houthi forces have conducted missile strikes against Saudi oil installations in a show of retaliation against the increased air strikes on their territory.

Satellite images released by the BBC Verify suggest substantial smoke rising from Saudi Aramco facilities, indicating the impact of Houthi missile attacks. The ongoing conflict in Yemen, which began in 2014 following the Houthi takeover of Sanaa, has escalated considerably since then, particularly after a previous ceasefire began to falter in mid-2023.

Regular hostilities have surged as the Houthis sought to solidify their hold on strategic locations, significantly affecting global oil supply routes. According to the Yemeni government, there have been at least 959 fatalities and over 5,000 injuries since early August, along with significant displacement impacting nearly 197,000 individuals.

The situation remains fluid as the Yemeni military continues its operations in hopes of reclaiming control over key strategic areas. However, the humanitarian implications of this renewed conflict remain grave, with civilians increasingly caught in the crossfire of a protracted war that shows no signs of abating.