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Yemeni govt faces major fight to retake Bab al-Mandeb
The counteroffensive is being focused on retaking Mocha, the district of Dhubab south of the city and Bab al-Mandeb further south, alongside Saudi air strikes across areas under the control of the Houthis.
The Houthis were expecting there to be a counteroffensive, a counterattack to try to recapture these areas. They have specialised in what can be described as a “stealth warfare” strategy, where they are able to take over areas and hide their weapons, launching pads and air defence radars.
That has been the problem the US and Israel have had in trying to destroy the Houthis’ military capabilities and ballistic missile launching capabilities. Both failed in their military offensives against the group.
But for Saudi Arabia or the internationally recognised Yemeni government to be successful, they have to have a military presence on the ground, and that is what they do not currently have.
A major military offensive would be needed to regain the territories lost, specifically Bab al-Mandeb and the strategic city of Mocha, which gives the Houthis full access to Bab al-Mandeb and international shipping traffic through the Red Sea, reports AL Jazeera.