Over 120 Killed as Houthi Offensive Targets Red Sea Gateway

At least 129 people were killed in a major offensive launched by the Iran backed Houthi militia on Thursday as they attempted to seize control of the Bab al Mandeb Strait. The fighting, described by some sources as the deadliest clashes in years, involved ground assaults, rockets, and drones in the southwestern provinces of Taiz and Hodeidah. A Yemeni military official reported 66 government soldiers killed, while sources close to the Houthis reported 62 militants dead. One civilian death was also recorded.

The Houthis are targeting the port city of Mokha and elevated terrain, including Mount al Numan, to improve their control over the Bab al Mandeb Strait. This waterway is a critical chokepoint where the Red Sea meets the Gulf of Aden. Its strategic importance has increased following restrictions to traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The Houthis previously declared a blockade on ships approaching the west coast of Saudi Arabia in July, and analysts suggest that capturing Mokha or the strait would provide the militia with more leverage in negotiations with the Saudi led coalition and the government in exile.

The conflict follows the breakdown of a comparative calm in July. While some reports state the truce ended amid a broader war with Iran in the Gulf, others specify that the collapse was triggered by the Houthis welcoming an Iranian plane to the capital, Sanaa. In response to the current offensive, the government has sent reinforcements to Taiz from its base in Aden on Saudi orders.

Outlets with a center lean focused on the strategic military objectives and the breakdown of the truce. Center right outlets framed the Houthis as a terror group and emphasized the threat to international shipping and Saudi oil exports. Center left coverage mirrored the center lean by highlighting the humanitarian impact and the geopolitical context of the Red Sea gateway.