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Yemeni government forces withdraw from the Bab el-Mandeb area to defend the city of Aden

Ana Maria Eftene

15 November 2026, 10:42

International

Bab-el-Mandeb FOTO: Shutterstock.com

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Yemen’s government forces announced on Sunday, November 15, that they were withdrawing from the vicinity of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the most important maritime routes between Asia and Europe. The troops are redeploying to Aden to strengthen the defenses of the internationally recognized government’s headquarters, which is backed by Saudi Arabia.

The Southern Armed Forces said they were leaving Dhubab Airport and positions in the Bab el-Mandeb area, west of Taiz. According to the statement, the decision aims to protect Aden and the neighboring provinces, strengthen the front lines, and counter existing threats.

The withdrawal could allow the Houthi rebels, who control the capital Sanaa and much of the country’s north, to expand their influence over the strait. In September, they advanced toward the Red Sea coast, while the government offensive launched in October failed to eliminate the threat to the area.

Bab el-Mandeb links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and is essential for ships using the Suez Canal. Alongside tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, the development could put additional pressure on maritime transport and Gulf oil exports. The conflict intensified after the UN-brokered truce was violated in 2022, while the humanitarian situation remains dire in Taiz, a city under siege.

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Context: Before the withdrawal toward Aden, the fighting in Yemen was followed by Houthi advances in the Bab el-Mandeb area and a government offensive heavily supported by Saudi Arabia

Prior to the withdrawal announced on Sunday, the Houthi rebels took control of Yemen’s western coast and several strategic islands in the Bab el-Mandeb area, after Yemeni government forces had reportedly withdrawn. The islands mentioned included Perim (Mayyoun), Hanich, and Zugar, while the battles also included the bombing of Mokha airport by Saudi Arabia in an attempt to halt the offensive.

At the same time, the Saudi Arabia-led military coalition joined the government offensive against the Houthis as part of an operation called “Operation Yemen’s Sunrise”: General Turki al-Maliki announced that 100 fighter jets had participated since dawn and that, since the beginning of the campaign, the coalition had reportedly destroyed 324 “high-value targets.” On Monday, government forces had reportedly captured key positions and extensive areas of Dhubab district, backed by Saudi air support, while Houthi-affiliated media denied the territorial losses.