Yemeni Army Thwarts Houthi Attempts to Consolidate Gains in West
Yemeni government forces repelled Houthi attempts to seize high ground east of Bab al-Mandab and west of Taiz, with heavy fighting on the Kahboub and Al-Wazi’iyah fronts. The operations aim to prevent the Houthis from consolidating their control of Bab al-Mandab, Mayyun Island and the western coast. Houthi shelling of Al-Turairah village killed three children.
Why it matters: This bears directly on the maritime chokepoints theme, since control of the highlands around Bab al-Mandab determines whether the Houthis can entrench their position over the strait.