Yemeni Government-Aligned Forces Pull Back from Bab al-Mandeb to Secure Aden

Government-aligned military units in Yemen have begun withdrawing from key positions near the Bab al-Mandeb strait to consolidate defenses around the interim capital of Aden, official military representatives announced on Sunday. The repositioning of the Southern Armed Forces follows renewed military pressure from Houthi fighters in the region.

The redeployment, carried out by the Southern Armed Forces, involves pulling troops from Dhubab airport and surrounding coastal sectors in the country's southwest. A spokesman for the Southern Armed Forces stated that this step is taken based on the priority of securing the capital, Aden, and the neighbouring governorates, as well as strengthening the front lines and addressing existing threats.

The decision follows recent territorial advances by Houthi forces, who captured highland positions north of Aden and announced preparations for a potential push toward the southern port city. Aden has served as the seat of Yemen's internationally recognized government since Houthi fighters drove administration officials out of the capital, Sanaa, in 2015.

Military officials indicated that part of the redeployed forces would also be directed toward the city of Taiz, where fighting continues to the west. Taiz remains under Houthi siege, with humanitarian access severely restricted and essential aid supplies blocked. The city currently accommodates approximately half of the 300,000 civilians displaced across Yemen following the collapse of the 2022 ceasefire earlier this summer.

The retreat from the Bab al-Mandeb sector marks a shift in the counteroffensive launched by government-backed units in September. While forces initially reclaimed key positions near the strait, including Dhubab, they failed to dislodge Houthi fighters from the port city of Mocha and other strategic coastal areas.

Amid the shifting control on the ground, cross-border hostilities have expanded. The Saudi-led coalition reported shooting down two Houthi-launched drones over the Mecca region in Saudi Arabia on Sunday. Houthi forces have repeatedly targeted Saudi energy infrastructure and transport links using long-range missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles in recent weeks.

In response to the troop movements, Yemeni government military spokesman Majid Al-Nazili appealed to international partners to assist in restoring control over the Bab al-Mandeb strait and the western coast. He emphasized that the waterway remains critical for global maritime navigation and commercial shipping routes.

Separately on Sunday, the International Committee of the Red Cross reported that Houthi authorities had unilaterally released 600 prisoners detained in connection with the conflict. The organisation stated that it supported the release operation involving individuals held during the ongoing armed conflict.

Written by Thorben Thiede thorben.thiede@alpineweekly.com