📰 3 sources 8 articles · 5 Oct 2026, 11:27 → 12 days ago

Operation 'Fajr al-Yemen': Announcement of Control over Bab al-Mandab and Mokha and an Attack toward Sanaa

Yemeni government forces announced Operation 'Fajr al-Yemen' and a strategic attack on Sanaa, along with control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, Dhubab Airport, and Mokha city and port, capturing a number of Houthi elements and besieging hundreds of others in Dhubab, and Houthi withdrawals in Taiz. This coincided with U.S. and Saudi affirmations of support for Riyadh and the security of Bab al-Mandab, and the operation's continuation until state institutions are restored.

📍 Where things stand: The operation is still ongoing according to official announcements, with government forces controlling Bab al-Mandab, Dhubab and Mokha, and Houthi withdrawals in Taiz.

⏱️ Timeline

5 Oct 2026, 11:27 Yemeni government forces announced their control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, as reported by lbcgroup.tv, without further details.
5 Oct 2026, 13:18 Yemeni government forces announced the start of a strategic attack on Sanaa. Al-Arabiya quoted military sources saying government forces captured dozens of Houthi elements, while the Yemeni Deputy Defense Minister told Al-Telefizi al-Arabi that his forces fully controlled the Bab al-Mandab Strait and Mayun Island and that the military operation is ongoing. The Saudi Ministry of Defense announced that it is providing air protection.
5 Oct 2026, 16:16 Yemeni forces announced the capture of a number of Houthi elements and the besieging of hundreds of others in the Dhubab area on Yemen's western coast, alongside announcing control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait and Dhubab Airport and cutting the road linking Dhubab and Mokha. They also announced carrying out 1,122 targeting operations and launching Operation 'Fajr al-Yemen,' while the spokesman for the Arab Coalition to Support Legitimacy, Turki al-Maliki, said 324 targets were destroyed with the participation of 100 fighter jets.
5 Oct 2026, 17:14 U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed Saudi Arabia's right to defend itself, stressing that Washington will fulfill its security commitments to Riyadh and that the Yemeni government and Saudi Arabia will not accept Houthi control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, amid Operation 'Fajr al-Yemen' announced by Chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council Rashad al-Alimi.
5 Oct 2026, 17:14 Sources in Yemen's southwestern Taiz governorate revealed the withdrawal of more than 50 vehicles carrying dozens of Houthi elements from al-Buriha and Bani Bakari toward al-Kadha, with dozens of others leaving mountain heights in Jabal Habashi district, coinciding with the advance of Yemeni forces in surrounding areas, after the announcement of control over Bab al-Mandab and Dhubab and cutting the road linking Dhubab and Mokha and imposing fire control over it.
5 Oct 2026, 18:51 Yemeni government forces announced control of Mokha city on Yemen's western coast, west of Taiz governorate. The National Shield Forces, as reported by Al-Arabiya, announced the liberation of Mokha city and its port, and the Yemeni Armed Forces confirmed their control of the city after violent clashes and with air cover, while continuing to pursue Houthi elements. Chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council Rashad al-Alimi said Operation 'Fajr al-Yemen' continues until state institutions are restored, while a U.S. official said Washington provides support to Saudi Arabia in planning, intelligence sharing and refueling to confront Houthi attacks. This advance comes within Operation 'Fajr al-Yemen,' announced by al-Alimi with the aim of restoring Houthi-held areas and advancing toward Sanaa, with the participation of 100 fighter jets.

Timeline written by AI from the sources below; updated as new reports arrive.

How the sources covered it

lbcgroup.tv and aljadeed focused on brief announcements of control over Bab al-Mandab and Mokha without details, while Lebanon Debate provided broader coverage including operation and targeting figures, statements by U.S. and Saudi officials, Houthi withdrawals, and details of Mokha's liberation.

lbcgroup.tv It limited itself to announcing Yemeni government forces' control of Bab al-Mandab without further details.
Lebanon Debate It expanded military and political coverage, reporting the announcement of the attack on Sanaa, the capture of Houthi elements, targeting figures, Rubio's statements, Houthi withdrawals, details of Mokha's liberation, and U.S. support.
aljadeed It limited itself to announcing Yemeni government forces' control of Mokha city without details on the operation or losses.

AI comparison of what each outlet emphasized. It describes emphasis, not accuracy.

lbcgroup.tvLebanon Debatealjadeed