Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Yemeni Government Forces Advance Toward Bab el-Mandeb Amid Disputed Claims
Yemeni government forces say they moved into Dhubab, near an important sea passage called the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
They said Saudi-led coalition aircraft supported them and that they retook positions, disrupted a Houthi supply route and captured some fighters.
A government minister said the forces had effective control of the area, but another source said fighting continued nearby.
Houthi-aligned media said reports of government gains were false.
Some reports said government forces advanced toward Mocha, but Reuters could not independently confirm the extent of the gains.
Houthi sources also claimed advances near Taiz, while government sources gave conflicting accounts.
President Rashad al-Alimi had announced a broader campaign the day before.
The reports show that both sides made competing claims about the fighting and control of territory.
Yemeni government forces said they advanced into Dhubab district near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait with Saudi-led coalition air support.
Government sources reported recapturing positions, cutting a Houthi supply route and capturing several fighters; Reuters also reported claims of advances toward Mocha.
Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani said government forces had effective control of the strait area, while another source said fighting continued near a military base.
Houthi-aligned media denied government advances in Dhubab and separately claimed Houthi forces had pushed government troops from al-Mawasit district.
The offensive followed President Rashad al-Alimi’s Sunday announcement of a wider campaign; conflicting accounts also described Houthi gains near Taiz.
- Who
- Yemeni government forces and Houthi fighters; Saudi-led coalition forces provided air support, according to government sources.
- What
- Government forces reported advances and recaptured positions near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait; Houthi-aligned media denied the reported gains.
- When
- Monday, October 5; the articles do not specify the year.
- Where
- Dhubab district in Taiz province, Yemen, near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait; fighting and competing claims were also reported near Mocha and Taiz.
- Why
- The government said the offensive was part of a broader campaign to reverse Houthi gains and retake territory.
Yemeni Government Accounts
Houthi-Aligned Accounts
Advances around Dhubab
Yemeni Government Accounts
Government and military sources said forces advanced, retook positions and cut a Houthi supply route; al-Eryani said they had effective control of the strait area.
Houthi-Aligned Accounts
Houthi-aligned media denied government advances toward Dhubab and called the reports false.
Control and fighting near the strait
Yemeni Government Accounts
One government official said forces had effective control, while another government source said fighting continued near a military base.
Houthi-Aligned Accounts
Houthi-aligned media rejected claims of government gains in the area.
Houthi advances near Taiz
Yemeni Government Accounts
Five government military sources reported Houthi advances on sections of a mountain road and into al-Turbah, but another government source disputed whether the road had been cut and denied one reported advance.
Houthi-Aligned Accounts
A Houthi-run news agency said Houthi forces had driven government troops from al-Mawasit district.
- Reported date
- Monday, October 5; no year is specified.
- Main location
- Dhubab district, Taiz province, near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
- Government claims
- Sources said forces retook positions, cut a Houthi supply route and captured several fighters.
- Control claims
- Moammar al-Eryani said government forces had effective control of the strait area; another government source said fighting continued near a military base.
- Houthi response
- Houthi-aligned media described reports of government advances toward Dhubab as false.
- Air support
- Government sources said Saudi-led coalition air cover supported the ground forces.
- Mocha
- Four government sources said forces reached the outskirts of Mocha; the Defence Ministry said the city had fallen. Reuters could not independently verify the extent of government gains.
- Wider campaign
- Rashad al-Alimi announced a broader campaign to retake territory on Sunday.
