Yemeni military source: Advance attempts by Saudi formations towards Bab al-Mandab repelled

A Yemeni military source said on 2 November that the Yemeni Armed Forces repelled failed attempts by the formations of the Saudi enemy, led by officer Badr al-Harbi, to advance towards Bab al-Mandab.

According to the source, the Saudi formations suffered heavy losses, with a large number of dead and wounded, including Saudis. The source said the failure of the attempts to advance at Bab al-Mandab caused disputes and divisions among the Saudi formations.

The Yemeni military source also said that Saudi officers are pushing their formations to advance and repeat the failed attempts despite their losses. According to the source, Saudi officers constantly repeat that “there must be an advance whatever the losses, even at the cost of thousands killed”.

On the same day, the Yemeni Armed Forces attacked positions in the Saudi cities of Taif, Abha and Najran with missiles and drones. The Yemeni Armed Forces also said they were continuing operations in the west of Lahij province.

The Bab al-Mandab Strait connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is one of the main maritime trade routes between Asia and Europe.

In early October, Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces said they had advanced around the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Since then, the areas around the strait have become one of the main lines of fighting between the Yemeni Armed Forces and Saudi-backed forces.