Houthis Launch Ground Assault and Rocket Attacks Near Bab al-Mandab Strait, Killing Over 120

The Iran-backed Houthis initiated a coordinated ground assault on September 3, 2026, targeting coastal areas near the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Rocket and drone attacks accompanied the assault, with the Houthis aiming to secure control of the narrow waterway, a vital route for global trade. Over 120 people were killed in the clashes, according to multiple sources. The fighting marked the worst violence in Yemen in years, with reports of heavy casualties and widespread destruction in the affected regions.