Houthis Advance to Within 50 Miles of Aden, Closest Since 2015
Updated
Updated · ایران اینترنشنال · Nov 2
Houthis Advance to Within 50 Miles of Aden, Closest Since 2015
3 articles · Updated · ایران اینترنشنال · Nov 2
Summary
Four military sources told Reuters the Houthis have pushed to within 50 miles of Aden, the temporary capital and main stronghold of Yemen's internationally recognized government.
That advance puts the group closer to the southern city than at any time since the opening months of the civil war in 2015.
Aden carries outsized strategic weight because it serves as the government's base after the Houthis were driven from the city following their brief entry in 2015.
As Houthi forces push within 50 miles of Aden, will the ensuing battle completely sever the vital Red Sea global shipping corridor?
With past UN truces shattered, can Saudi-backed forces stop the Houthi advance before Yemen's temporary capital falls once again?
Yemen 2026: Houthi Breakthrough Near Aden Threatens Global Shipping and Triggers Humanitarian Crisis
Overview
Between September and November 2026, Houthi forces launched a major offensive along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, capturing key positions including the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and pushing inland to within 80 km of Aden. This advance severed the main highway to Taiz, encircling the city and triggering a severe humanitarian crisis with mass displacement and shortages of essentials. The rapid Houthi gains were enabled by fragmentation among anti-Houthi factions and direct Iranian advisory support, allowing them to disrupt coalition communications. Houthi control over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait forced global shipping to reroute, raising freight costs and oil prices, and prompting Saudi Arabia to prepare a large-scale counter-offensive.