Dhubab
District on Yemen's Red Sea coast overlooking the Bab al-Mandeb strait.
Yemeni government forces attacked Houthi positions in Dhubab, the district overlooking the Bab al-Mandeb, on 5 October 2026 with heavy Saudi-led air support. The Giants Brigades said they had reached it; Houthi-aligned media denied any advance.
Last refreshed: 18 October 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Who holds Dhubab, the district that commands the Bab al-Mandeb?
Timeline for Dhubab
Yemeni troops push on Houthi-held Dhubab
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Iran Conflict 2026Background
Dhubab is a district of Taiz Governorate on Yemen's south-west coast, also known as Bab al-Mandab District. Its positions overlook the Bab al-Mandeb, the strait at the Red Sea's southern mouth, so whoever holds them can threaten shipping through it.
The Houthis took Yemen's whole Red Sea coast in September 2026, including the island of Mayun inside the strait. Dhubab was Houthi-held when the government's offensive opened on 4 October.
That offensive aims to reverse the September advance and drive the Houthis from the waterway. On 5 October government forces attacked Dhubab with Saudi-led jets overhead, and the Giants Brigades said their first units had arrived. Houthi-aligned media denied any advance.
Where is Dhubab in Yemen?
Why is Dhubab important?
Did Yemeni government forces retake Dhubab?
Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 18 October 2026. Editorial standards.