Saudi-Backed Forces Retake Areas Near Bab el-Mandeb Strait

Saudi-led coalition forces in Yemen retook several key areas near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, pushing Houthi rebels out of territory seized last month to secure critical maritime oil shipping chokepoints.

The strategic offensive comes as Riyadh relies heavily on alternative export routes through the Red Sea following disruptions to traditional Persian Gulf supply lanes.

Reclaiming Mocha and Dhubab

Government-aligned military units reassumed control over the outskirts of Mocha and an airstrip in the Dhubab district, rolling back territorial gains made by Houthi forces during a lightning offensive in September, according to an Investing.com report.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait serves as a vital maritime passage connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Saudi Arabia has leaned on the waterway as a primary alternative supply route for energy exports after Iran effectively shuttered the nearby Strait of Hormuz following the start of a joint U.S.-Israeli assault in late February.

Export Volumes and Kpler Shipping Data

Despite regional conflict and contested chokepoints, primary energy flow data indicates that Middle Eastern exporters have maintained outward shipments.

According to Kpler shipping data cited in the reports, the seven-day moving average for crude exports from the region stood at 18.3 million barrels per day on September 30. Gulf oil exporters managed to surpass pre-war export levels for 14 days last month despite ongoing concerns over crimped flows through both the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Retaliatory Attacks and Ongoing Conflict

In response to the government forces' tactical advances, Houthi leadership reported carrying out retaliatory attacks targeting oil facilities, airports, and other infrastructure sites inside Saudi Arabia.

Separately, Houthi fighters seized control of the town of Turbah over the weekend, underscoring the fluid nature of territorial control across southwestern Yemen as coalition forces attempt to stabilize supply lines for regional crude transit.