Houthi rebels kill 129 in Yemen as they try to capture Bab al-Mandab

At least 129 people have been killed in fierce fighting between Houthi rebels and government forces in Yemen. This is one of the deadliest clashes in Yemen in recent years. The Houthi rebels are trying to consolidate their position near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which is considered the gateway to the Red Sea. The fighting began on Thursday. In addition to carrying out ground attacks near coastal areas, the Houthis also used rockets and drones. In the meantime, they captured several strategic heights along the Red Sea coast. From these areas, it is easy to keep an eye on the port of Mokha and the sea route. According to AFP, a Yemeni army official said 66 of its soldiers had been killed. Sources associated with the Houthi rebels have claimed that at least 62 rebels have been killed. A civilian has also been killed. Thus, according to the figures released by various parties, the number of people killed in the fighting has risen to more than 120. However, these figures have not been independently confirmed. Why is Bab al-Mandeb so important? Bab al-Mandeb is a very important sea route connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and further to the Indian Ocean. To the north of it, the Red Sea is connected to the Mediterranean Sea by the Suez Canal. This route carries out a large amount of international trade and energy traffic. Therefore, the impact of a prolonged conflict or any kind of obstacle in the sea route here will not only be limited to Yemen, but may also affect other parts of the world. In the current offensive, the Houthis are also focused on the port of Mokha and its surrounding areas. Capturing strategic heights could help them put pressure on government forces in the coastal area and keep an eye on the roads leading to Mokha and Bab al-Mandeb. According to military sources, the Houthis have captured several high-altitude areas near the Red Sea and around the city of Taiz. The government has sent troops to fight the Houthi rebels. The Yemeni government has also sent additional troops to Taiz in view of the growing strength of the Houthi rebels. According to a Yemeni official, the government has sent troops from Aden to Taiz at the behest of Saudi Arabia. According to experts, if the Houthis strengthen their grip on the strategic areas around the port of Mokha or Bab al-Mandeb, it could strengthen their position in any negotiations with the Yemeni government and Saudi Arabia. Who are the Houthi rebels? The Houthi rebels are an armed group of the Zaidi Shiite community living in the northern part of Yemen. It began as a religious-social movement in the 1990s. The Houthis accused the government of discriminating. The wave of the Arab Revolution, which started in Tunisia in 2011, also reached Yemen. At that time, President Ali Abdullah Saleh had been in power for almost 33 years. His throne was snatched away due to the protests of the youth. In February 2012, Abderbabu Mansour Hadi became president. But his government was weak. The Houthi rebels took advantage of it and captured the capital, Sanaa, in September 2014. The situation deteriorated so much that in 2015, President Hadi had to leave the country and take refuge in Saudi Arabia. After Hadi's resignation, Yemen is not controlled by any single government. At present, Yemen is divided into many parts. The Houthi rebels get the support of Iran. While the internationally recognized government gets the support of Saudi Arabia and its allies.