Yemeni government forces drive Houthis from Bab el-Mandeb Strait

AI Summary

Yemeni government forces, backed by Saudi airstrikes, advanced along the coast toward Mocha and pushed Houthi fighters from much of the territory they had recently captured. Yemen’s Defence Ministry said Mocha had fallen, while government sources reported Houthi fighters retreating into the highlands.

By Mohammed Ghobari and Timour Azhari Oct 5 (Reuters) - Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces staged a lightning advance on Monday to retake the coast around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait up to the city of Mocha, the government said, pushing the Iran-backed Houthis out of most of the areas they seized last month. The forces of the internationally recognised government, backed by heavy Saudi air strikes, reached the outskirts of Mocha late on Monday and Houthi fighters were retreating into the highlands, four government sources said. The Defence Ministry said the city had fallen.