Yemen: Fierce Battles in Taiz... Giants Brigades Launch Offensive in Bab al-Mandab
- 2026-10-18
- 13:44:49
Bab al-Mandab – Yemeni sources revealed on Sunday that the Southern Giants Brigades launched a new offensive on the Bab al-Mandab region to liberate it from the Houthi group.
Earlier, Yemeni sources reported targeting Houthi gatherings in Jabal Han and the vicinity of the 35th Brigade at the old airport west of Taiz, amidst escalating battles between government forces and the Houthis following the latter's attack on the old airport district in Taiz.
Yemen's western coast witnessed significant military developments last September, after the Houthis seized control of strategic coastal areas, including Mocha and locations near Bab al-Mandab, following the retreat of forces opposed to the group.
This October, Yemeni government forces and the Giants Brigades announced a military operation in the vicinity of Bab al-Mandab, which they said resulted in the recapture of the Dhubab area and strategic locations, cutting off Houthi supply routes.
The military escalation in the Bab al-Mandab region is of particular importance given the strait's strategic location. It connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, and constitutes one of the most vital maritime routes for international trade and shipping to and from the Suez Canal.
The Bab al-Mandab region lies on Yemen's western coast, near Taiz Governorate. Throughout the years of war, it has witnessed frequent clashes between anti-Houthi forces and the group itself, as part of the struggle for control of coastal areas and strategic locations overlooking shipping lanes.
The Giants Brigades are among the most prominent military formations that have participated in operations against the Houthis on the western coast. They have also fought battles in other governorates, most notably Shabwa, as part of the conflicts that have plagued the country in recent years.
Controlling coastal locations near the strait holds significant military and security importance, given its connection to protecting shipping lanes and its impact on the balance of power on Yemen's western front.