Yemenupdated 17m ago2 min read
Yemeni Armed Forces Withdraw From Bab el Mandeb, Redeploy Toward Aden Amid Houthi Threats
8outlets comparedA wider view of the story
4 West Asian2 Other1 Asian1 Western MainstreamThis article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Yemeni government forces withdraw, redeploy from Bab al-Mandab area toward Aden to reinforce southern defense. In response to escalating Houthi threats as Iran-backed Houthis gain foothold on Yemen's western coast.
Save coverage image
8 outlets in this story. Read their headlines below.
Outlets did split on Houthis Claim Ballistic Missile Strike on Saudi Officers’ Camp in Aden →
Forces redeploy toward Aden
Yemeni Armed Forces announced the withdrawal of troops from Dhubab airport and from the Bab el Mandeb Strait area west of Taiz, saying the move came in light of increasing threats and military concentrations of Houthi rebels supported by Iran. The Ministry of Defense said the adjustment was part of a reorganization of deployment to reinforce the defense of Aden and the southern provinces, and it aimed to improve response capacity to possible attacks against the city where the Yemeni government, relocated from Sana’a, is located and its surroundings.
Colonel of the General Staff Majed Abdulā al Nuzaili supported the southern forces’ action and said protecting the provisional capital and liberating Taiz is a "national and moral responsibility". The statement also said the Armed Forces would continue actions to break the siege imposed on Taiz, with the backing of the international coalition led by Saudi Arabia, and it confirmed that operation 'Yemen Dawn' will proceed to achieve its objectives and eliminate the danger posed by the militia.
Competing accounts of control
Euronews described the government-aligned forces leaving positions in Bab al-Mandab as leaving the Houthis in positions overlooking the strategic strait, while the Southern forces moved toward Aden to reinforce its defenses against Houthi pressure. The Times of India quoted the Southern Armed Forces statement that "This step is taken based on the priority of securing the capital, Aden, and the neighbouring governorates, as well as strengthening the front lines and addressing existing threats."
The Yemeni government forces said they redeployed around Aden after withdrawing from Zood Baba Airport and areas near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, following an "amphibious" maneuver carried out by the Houthi Ansar Allah group allied with Iran behind the government forces. The Al-Arabiya TV correspondent in Aden Omar Al-Maqrimi reported that government forces retreated to positions behind Ras Al-Arah, reaching Khawr Amirah at the western entrance of Aden, where they are bolstering their military presence.
Aden, Taiz, and shipping stakes
The redeployment narrative tied the next phase of fighting to Taiz, because the Yemeni Armed Forces said they would continue operations to break the siege of Taiz and relieve its residents while countering Houthi threats and working to restore state institutions. The Ministry of Defense framing emphasized that the liberation of Bab el Mandeb and the western coast is an "inherent right" of the Armed Forces, and it urged the international community to contribute to this objective given the strategic importance of the strait for navigation and international trade security.
“Humanitarian aid cannot reach the city, and civilians cannot leave.”
The Times of India warned that the withdrawal could give the Houthis greater leverage over one of the world's most important maritime chokepoints, potentially increasing pressure on global shipping. The same account linked the wider stakes to Gulf oil producers, saying simultaneous pressure on the two waterways could restrict Gulf oil producers' access to their main shipping routes, while the humanitarian crisis around Taiz remained under blockade with humanitarian aid unable to reach the city and civilians unable to leave.