Yemen's Saudi-backed forces claim key gains around Bab al-Mandab strait

Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces said on Monday that they had seized key positions on the Bab al-Mandab strait from the Houthis. Three military sources and one government source told Reuters their forces had taken large parts of Dhubab district, which overlooks the strategically vital strait, and that they were asserting full control over the area with heavy air support from a Saudi-led coalition. The forces are fighting to reverse significant advances made by the Iran-aligned Houthis and to drive them from the Bab al-Mandab. Houthi-aligned media had earlier denied that government forces had made advances in the area.