Yemeni forces report gains near Bab al-Mandab

Yemeni government-aligned forces, backed by Saudi air power, reported advances in the Dhubab district near the Bab al-Mandab Strait on Monday, October 5, saying they had seized key positions and cut a road toward the port city of Mocha. Houthi-linked media denied that government forces had made gains in Dhubab, and the extent of control over the strait and Mocha remained unclear. The advance was part of a broader offensive announced by Presidential Leadership Council head Rashad al-Alimi, aimed at reversing Houthi territorial gains. Yemeni military representatives said forces had taken positions around Dhubab and secured the Bab al-Mandab area. A military spokesman said Giants Brigades and National Shield forces had taken control of the district’s airport and cut the road to Mocha. Videos posted by advancing forces were geolocated to their stated positions, supporting their presence in the area, but not establishing control of the entire waterway. Reports differed on whether Mocha had been recaptured.