Yemeni government troops withdraw forces from Bab el-Mandeb to defend Aden

Withdrawal of forces to defend the capital

On 15 November, the Southern Armed Forces, a key military formation fighting on the side of the Yemeni government in the south of the country, announced the withdrawal of its units from the area near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This decision was made to concentrate efforts on the defence of the city of Aden.

“This step is being taken in view of the priority of ensuring the security of the capital Aden and neighbouring provinces, as well as strengthening the front lines and responding to existing threats,” the military stated in an official statement.

Regrouping in the As-Sukya area

According to Yemeni military sources, forces are being withdrawn from the territory near Dubab airport and the coast of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait west of Taiz province. The troops are regrouping in the As-Sukya area, located south of Dubab and approximately 150 km from Aden.

Meanwhile, government forces continue to attempt to push the Houthis out of the adjacent coastal territories.

End of six-week counteroffensive

It is noted that this decision effectively marks the end of a six-week counteroffensive against the Houthis, who had previously captured the coastline near the entrance to the Red Sea.

The civil war in Yemen, which lasted for over a decade and was suspended from 2022, flared up again this summer against the backdrop of the war between the US and Iran.