DOHA, October 5. /TASS/. Yemeni government forces have gained control over areas near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and Dhubab Airport in the west of the Taiz governorate, army spokesman Colonel Majed Al-Nuzaili said.

"Today, the armed forces launched a large-scale operation, Dawn of Yemen <…>. The al-Malika (Brigades of Giants - TASS) and Dar al-Watan (Motherland’s Shield - TASS) have taken control of Bab al-Mandeb," the SABA state news agency quoted him as saying.

According to the spokesman, government troops carried out a flanking maneuver against the Houthi positions. As a result, the army blocked the road linking Dhubab with the port city of Mokha and established fire control over it. Hundreds of Ansar Allah rebels were trapped in Dhubab and urged to surrender, he said, adding that some of the rebels managed to escape by boat.