Yemeni government forces announced Monday that they had secured control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and expelled Iran-backed Houthi fighters from several key positions overlooking the strategic waterway.

The internationally recognized Yemeni government said its Giants Brigades and Nation’s Shield Forces seized the Dhubab district, including its airport, and cut supply routes linking the area to the port city of Mocha. Military spokesmen reported that the operation, dubbed “Dawn of Yemen” or the “Battle of Liberation,” also involved precision strikes that neutralized over 1,700 Houthi fighters and destroyed hundreds of vehicles and equipment.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait serves as a critical chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, through which roughly 12 percent of global trade passes. Houthi advances last month into coastal areas including Dhubab, Mocha, and nearby islands had raised concerns over disruptions to energy shipments and international shipping.

Saudi-led coalition air support played a major role, with reports of 100 fighter jets conducting strikes on Houthi targets and providing air protection over the strait. Government officials stated that the push forms part of a broader offensive aimed at reclaiming territory and state institutions from Houthi control, including operations toward the capital Sanaa.

Houthi-aligned media denied the reported advances in Dhubab and accused Saudi sources of exaggeration. Independent verification of battlefield claims remains limited, as is common in the long-running Yemeni conflict.

The counteroffensive follows weeks of intensified fighting after Houthi gains along the Red Sea coast. Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council chairman Rashad al-Alimi announced the start of the campaign on Sunday, describing it as necessary to end the Houthi insurgency.

The developments come amid heightened regional tensions involving Iran and its proxies. Securing the strait is viewed by many observers as essential for stabilizing global energy markets and maritime routes.