The Yemen front is heating up again — and the struggle over Bab el-Mandeb is increasingly at the center of it.

In the past 24 hours:

▪️ Ansar Allah says Saudi aircraft carried out 26 airstrikes across five Yemeni provinces, including Taiz, Marib, Jawf, Dhamar and Saada. Yemeni government forces, meanwhile, say they have dramatically expanded air and ground operations against Houthi positions.

▪️ Fighting around Taiz has intensified. Government-aligned aircraft carried out fresh strikes west of the city today, September 28, while government forces claim advances on several fronts and attacks on Houthi supply routes, weapons sites and vehicles. Many battlefield claims remain independently unverified.

▪️ A strike around Taiz also caused significant civilian casualties. Houthi authorities reported seven killed and dozens wounded, while government forces said the intended targets were Houthi military positions and vehicles.

Meanwhile, Riyadh is escalating diplomatically as well.

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Washington today for talks with Marco Rubio as the confrontation intensifies. Reuters previously reported that Mohammed bin Salman requested direct US military assistance against the Houthis; Washington declined to launch strikes but agreed to provide intelligence and targeting support.

And this is where Bab el-Mandeb becomes decisive.

Ansar Allah already holds territory and islands around the strait and has declared restrictions against Saudi-linked shipping. The objective does not necessarily require physically sealing the waterway.

The ability to threaten Saudi shipping, force rerouting and raise insurance and military-protection costs is itself strategic leverage.

The battle is now shifting toward the high ground and supply routes behind the Red Sea coast.

Whoever consolidates those positions will be in a much stronger position to either protect — or pressure — Bab el-Mandeb.

The Saudi–Yemen confrontation is no longer a frozen war. The Red Sea front is active, the air campaign is expanding, and the fight over the “Gate of Tears” is entering a new phase.