Yemen's government forces announced on Thursday via social media that they have "eliminated" 1,860 Houthi militants and conducted 2,103 "precise strike operations" against Houthi military positions since launching a large-scale counteroffensive aimed at retaking Houthi-controlled territories. This operation is part of the ongoing "Yemen Dawn" campaign, which was announced on Sunday by Rashad al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, with the goal of reclaiming all Houthi-controlled areas, including the capital Sana'a. Recent fighting has primarily focused on the region around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a shipping route that has become increasingly vital for energy exports after conflicts between the US and Iran restricted trade through the Strait of Hormuz.