Yemeni government forces retreat near Bab al-Mandab... and the Houthis advance towards Aden

The internationally recognized Yemeni government forces, supported by Saudi Arabia, suffered a setback in their battle against the Houthis, as they began to retreat towards the port of Aden, in light of violent battles taking place in mountainous areas overlooking the Red Sea, according to statements issued by both parties. The "Southern Forces" - one of the groups fighting alongside the internationally recognized Yemeni government - announced what it described as a "repositioning" in parts of the Red Sea coast near the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait.

The forces justified this step by saying that it comes within the framework of "giving priority to the security of the capital, Aden, and neighboring governorates, in light of the military buildup and recent threats." The forces explained that this step included "reorganizing military deployment and enhancing presence in specific areas and sectors, as required by the current stage."

For his part, the Minister of Information in the internationally recognized Yemeni government, Salem Thabet Al-Awlaki, stated that “major battles are managed according to strategic priorities and precise field calculations,” noting that the “military repositioning” operation carried out by the southern forces on Sunday falls within this context. In contrast, the Houthis celebrated their progress in the region, an advance that may put some of their forces within 80 kilometers (50 miles) of the city of Aden, where the internationally recognized Yemeni government is based.

The Houthi "Al-Masirah" channel quoted a military source as saying, "The withdrawing forces lost their positions and rear supply lines, and fled towards Aden under the pretext of protecting the city," adding that "describing the withdrawal as a repositioning reflects a state of panic and fear of being killed or captured." Internationally recognized government forces, supported by hundreds of Saudi air strikes, launched an offensive last month to retake parts of the Red Sea coast and the city of Mokha.

However, these forces achieved only limited progress, while the Houthis tightened their siege on the city of Taiz - the third largest city in Yemen - and penetrated through the mountainous areas towards the south.