Bab al-Mandab.. When the State Regains the Gateway to the World

The Yemeni government forces announced, hours ago, the control of the Bab al-Mandab area and the Dhobab Airport in the western Taiz Governorate, as part of the 'Fajr Yemen' operation launched by the President of the Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad al-Alimi, with support from the coalition led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The spokesman for the Yemeni forces, Colonel Majid al-Nazili, stated that the Giants Brigades and the National Shield carried out an encirclement operation that cut off the road between Dhobab and Mocha, a development that transcends its military dimension to political and economic implications affecting the entire world. Bab al-Mandab is not just an ordinary waterway; it is the southern gateway to the Red Sea and the link between the Indian Ocean and the Suez Canal, through which energy shipments and goods travel between Asia, Europe, and Africa. When this corridor is threatened, it is not only the Yemenis who pay the price, but also consumers in Europe, manufacturers in Asia, and emerging economies in Africa, as proven by the past years that witnessed navigation disruptions, rising insurance costs, and rerouting ships to longer and more expensive paths around the Cape of Good Hope. Therefore, the return of this vital site to the authority of the legitimate state represents a step towards restoring a fundamental principle in international law, which is that international maritime corridors belong to the world and are not subject to the extortion of any armed group or the logic of force outside the framework of the state. The Kingdom has remained, due to its location overlooking the Red Sea and its responsibility towards global energy security, at the forefront of countries affirming that freedom of navigation is an international commitment that is non-negotiable and cannot be subjected to fees or threats, and that securing maritime corridors is a shared responsibility among the benefiting states. The Yemeni government bases its battle on internationally recognized legitimacy and relevant Security Council resolutions, foremost among them Resolution 2216, while the Houthi militias carry a long record of actions that have threatened the security of Yemen and the region, and have never sought the prosperity of the areas they govern, but rather made their citizens fuel for calculations that do not serve their interests. As for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it has proven that it deals with events with political realism, reading each stage with its data; it adopts a stance of strength and firmness when war imposes itself, and adheres to wisdom, reason, and dialogue when the space for peace expands. Its record in this regard is clear; it has supported throughout the years initiatives for calm, political tracks, and humanitarian truces, and continues to affirm that the lasting solution in Yemen will only be political, but serious dialogue requires a party that understands that the time for imposing facts on the ground by force has ended. Therefore, what has been achieved in Bab al-Mandab strengthens the position of the legitimate government at the negotiating table, tightens the noose on those who bet on exhausting regional and international patience, and sends a reassuring message to shipping companies and major capitals that the security of navigation is an issue that can be protected when willpower unites. This makes international support for these efforts a direct interest for every country that relies on secure supply chains. However, this does not mean that the road to peace is complete; challenges remain significant, but betting on the support of brothers and the international community to consolidate these gains and transform them into sustainable stability remains a realistic and legitimate bet. The legitimate government, in turn, bears the responsibility of uniting the ranks of the forces under its banner and managing the recovered areas efficiently and justly, so that the residents can feel the fruits of recovery in their daily lives. The priority now remains to protect civilians, secure humanitarian aid, and create conditions for the return of state institutions to serve citizens, as true victory is not in controlling a geographical location, no matter how important it is, but in making the Yemeni feel that his state has returned to him, and in making the world feel that its Red Sea has returned to safety, and that the entire region is heading towards security and stability instead of escalation.