Yemen: Deadly Houthi Attack in Shabwa , Fighting Near Bab al-Mandab
- 2026-10-19
- 14:08:27
Shabwa – The death toll from the Houthi missile attack on the Al-Alam camp in Yemen's Shabwa province has risen to more than 40, with dozens more wounded, according to Yemeni sources on Monday. This comes as fighting renewed near the Bab al-Mandab Strait and west of Taiz.
An initial toll reported by the sources indicated 15 dead and more than 30 wounded, before the death toll was revised upwards.
The attack on the camp comes amid a military escalation on several fronts, including clashes between the Houthis and the Southern Giants Brigades around Bab al-Mandab, and fighting with government forces in Taiz.
Yemeni sources reported clashes on Monday morning between the Giants Brigades and the Houthis on the Bab al-Mandab front, after the Giants forces advanced to Khazan Hill.
The sources added that the Houthis fired dozens of mortar rounds and used drones during the fighting.
Yemeni sources reported on Sunday that the Giants Brigades launched a new offensive against Houthi positions in the Bab al-Mandab area, aiming to regain control.
In Taiz, Yemeni sources reported targeting Houthi gatherings in Jabal Han and the vicinity of the 35th Brigade in the old airport area west of the city.
This came amidst escalating battles between government forces and the Houthis, following the group's attack on neighborhoods in the old airport, according to the sources.
According to field data provided by the sources, the western coast witnessed military shifts during September, with the Houthis seizing strategic coastal areas, including Mocha and locations near Bab al-Mandab, after the retreat of forces opposed to the group.
This October, 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 Dhu Bab area and strategic locations, and the severing of Houthi supply routes.
The Giants Brigades are among the most prominent military formations that participated in the battles on the western coast against the Houthis. They also engaged in clashes in Shabwa Governorate and other areas of Yemen.
The battles near Bab al-Mandab are of paramount importance, extending beyond mere control of land positions, given the area's strategic location overlooking one of the most vital maritime chokepoints for international trade.
The strait connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, and from there to the Indian Ocean, and is a crucial passage for ships traveling to and from the Suez Canal.
The coastal locations overlooking the strait hold immense military and security significance for the warring parties, as they are linked to monitoring maritime traffic and supply routes, in addition to their influence on the balance of power along Yemen's western coast.