World · Middle East · 4 hrs ago
Yemen forces release footage of fighting near Bab el-Mandeb
Yemen’s Nation Shield forces released footage they said shows fighting with Houthi fighters near the Bab el-Mandeb strait.
The footage shows armored vehicles, fighters firing weapons and smoke rising in the distance.
The Houthis said they repelled an attack from the south and claimed the attacking forces had Saudi support.
In early October, Saudi-backed government forces pushed the Houthis from coastal areas the group had seized in September.
That setback weakened Houthi control of a strategic oil shipping route in the Red Sea.
Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah television also reported Saudi airstrikes in the city of Mocha, but Saudi Arabia had not confirmed them.
Yemen’s Nation Shield forces released footage they said showed fighting with Houthi forces near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The footage, released on 27 October, showed armoured vehicles, fighters firing weapons and smoke rising from distant hills.
The Houthis said they had repelled an attack from the south of the strait and claimed the attackers had Saudi support.
In early October, Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces were reported to have driven the Houthis from coastal areas they had captured in September.
Al Masirah, a Houthi-affiliated television station, reported Saudi air strikes in Mocha, but Saudi Arabia had not directly confirmed them.
- Who
- Yemen’s Nation Shield forces and Houthi forces. The Houthis said the attackers had Saudi support.
- What
- Nation Shield forces released footage they said showed fighting near Bab el-Mandeb. The Houthis said they had repelled an attack.
- When
- The footage was released on 27 October 2026.
- Where
- The Bab el-Mandeb area, south of the strait, in Yemen.
- Why
- Not stated
Yemen’s Nation Shield forces
Houthi forces
Account of the fighting
Yemen’s Nation Shield forces
Nation Shield forces released footage they said showed fighting with the Houthis near Bab el-Mandeb.
Houthi forces
The Houthis said they had repelled an attack from the south of the strait.
Support for the attackers
Yemen’s Nation Shield forces
Not stated by Nation Shield forces in the report.
Houthi forces
The Houthis said the attackers had Saudi support.
The Houthis captured coastal areas, according to the report.
Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces were reported to have driven the Houthis from some of those coastal areas.
Nation Shield forces released footage they said showed fighting near Bab el-Mandeb, while the Houthis claimed they had repelled an attack.
Al Masirah reported Saudi air strikes in Mocha; Saudi Arabia had not directly confirmed them.
- Footage released
- 27 October 2026
- Location
- Bab el-Mandeb Strait area, Yemen
- Forces releasing footage
- Yemen’s Nation Shield forces
- Houthi account
- Said they repelled an attack from the south of the strait
- Reported air strikes
- Mocha, Yemen