http://www.arabnews.com/news/814241
Yemen government troops seize control of Bab Al-Mandab Strait
REUTERS
Published — Friday 2 October 2015
DUBAI: Loyalist Yemeni troops and Gulf Arab forces on Thursday seized
control of the Arabian side of the strategic Bab Al-Mandab Strait
linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden from Houthi rebels, a
spokesman for the Gulf-backed government said.
Six months of war in Yemen has raised fears for the security of oil
supplies through Bab Al-Mandab, a main thoroughfare for vessels
heading for the United States or Europe from Asia or the Gulf. Its
western shore is controlled by Djibouti and Eritrea.
“In a large-scale military operation launched today, Yemeni
government, resistance and coalition forces liberated the Bab
Al-Mandab Strait and Mayun island with the goal of safeguarding this
key sea route,” Rajeh Badi told Reuters by telephone from the southern
port city of Aden, 170 km to the east.
Yemeni Prime Minister Khaled Bahah, who returned to Aden in
mid-September after months of exile in Saudi Arabia, later said on his
Twitter account:
“On this day, with support from the armed militias, we were
victorious. Mayun and Bab Al-Mandab, before them Marib, and soon, God
willing, Taiz and the rest of the cities.”
In 2013, more than 3.4 million barrels of oil per day passed through
the 20 km wide Bab Al-Mandab, according to the US Energy Information
Administration.
The Saudi-led Arab coalition intervened in the war in March to try to
restore Yemen’s legitimate government after it was forced into exile
by the Houthis, and contain Iran’s growing influence in their
backyard. The UAE said on Thursday that one of its soldiers had died
from wounds sustained in Yemen in August.
Received on Thu Oct 01 2015 - 20:39:56 EDT