Updated

Yemeni government forces have launched air strikes on Houthi targets as fighting intensifies for control of areas near the strategically vital Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a key chokepoint for global shipping between the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The strikes mark an escalation in the long-running conflict between the Houthi movement and the internationally recognized Yemeni government. Control of the strait has taken on added significance amid wider regional tensions linked to attacks on shipping in the area, with both sides seeking to secure territory that could influence broader Red Sea security dynamics.