Yemen.. What Does Fire Control on the Dhobab-Al-Mokha Road Mean?

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The military operation launched by the Yemeni armed forces against the Houthi militia has entered a new field phase on the western coast, with the announcement of control over Bab al-Mandab, as well as the road linking Dhobab and Al-Mokha, and tightening "fire control" over it, marking an important strategic and military shift.

This development came after the announcement by the President of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad al-Alimi, of the start of military operations to reclaim what remains of the republic's territories and restore state authority, before announcing on Monday the launch of the operation named "Dawn of Yemen," confirming that its goal is to restore state institutions and end Houthi control.

In this context, the Yemeni armed forces announced that the National Shield and the Giants Brigades are carrying out a wide operation under air cover, after liberating the Dhobab district, and continue to advance according to the approved plans in the battle to end the coup. Meanwhile, military sources reported that government forces have taken control of Bab al-Mandab and continue their advance towards the city of Al-Mokha, while encircling elements of the Houthi militia in the Bab al-Mandab sector and on Mayyun Island.

Additionally, the official spokesman for the coalition forces, Major General Turki al-Maliki, indicated the destruction of 324 "high-value" targets with the launch of the "Dawn of Yemen" operation, noting that air support is being provided to support the Yemeni armed forces on the ground around the clock, while continuing to deal with moving targets and securing air protection for the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

For his part, military and strategic expert Samir Raghab considered that the fire control over the road between Dhobab and Al-Mokha represents an important development in the course of operations. He explained that "Dhobab is the district overlooking the Bab al-Mandab Strait, while Al-Mokha represents a key junction between Al-Hudaydah and Taiz."

Raghab also pointed out in his talk to "Al-Arabiya.net/Al-Hadath.net" that the importance of cutting the road lies in the fact that it separates the Houthi forces present in Dhobab from supply lines and other elements, noting that the Houthis managed last month to extend their movement from Hays and Al-Tuhayta in Al-Hudaydah Governorate to reach Dhobab in Taiz, making the cutting of this connection necessary to isolate the forces present in the area.

He also highlighted that the importance of the coast is not limited to the field dimension, given the area's distance from the main Houthi strongholds, especially since the group's extension to this area threatens the southern regions, navigation, and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, emphasizing that breaking the Houthi advance in this area sends a strong moral message to the Yemeni forces and the coalition forces.

The road between Dhobab and Al-Mokha represents an important land axis on the western coast, connecting the area surrounding the Bab al-Mandab Strait to the city of Al-Mokha and its port.

By controlling Dhobab and the surrounding sites, and then imposing fire control over the road leading to Al-Mokha, government forces can pressure the movement lines of the Houthi forces between the strait area and the coastal city, as well as isolate and disrupt any reinforcements trying to move along this axis, according to Raghab, stressing that the recent movement is a significant factor in the course of the battle, as these sites provided the Houthis with fire cover to enhance their presence in the area near the strait.

In this context, the military expert stated that the "Yemen Dawn" operation is capable of achieving its objectives in confronting the Houthis, especially since the announcement by the President of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council regarding the operation was preceded by preparation, mobilization, and addressing points that needed to be focused on, confirming that the decisive factor in the end lies in the ability to maintain and enhance the lines that have been acquired.

It is noteworthy that the current battle came after weeks of continuous confrontations on the Khaboub front west of Taiz, overlooking the Bab al-Mandab Strait, where the region witnessed fierce battles between the Yemeni armed forces and the Houthis, focusing on the strategic mountainous heights in Khaboub, before the government forces announced the recovery of their positions and the consolidation of control over the heights, which allowed them to move towards Dhobab and continue to pressure the Houthi positions in the area.

This point gains importance in understanding the course of the battle; as the government forces had rearranged their deployment south of Al-Mokha during September, and established a command center in Dhobab towards Bab al-Mandab, following the Houthi advance at that time in several coastal fronts.

This operation came in the wake of the Houthis escalating their attacks last month on the Yemeni forces, coinciding with their advance towards the Red Sea coast and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital passage for shipping and oil tankers.

As battles intensified on several fronts in Yemen, the fiercest fighting concentrated in the southwest, whether on the coastal strip near the Bab al-Mandab Strait or in the hills surrounding the city of Taiz.