Houthi commander Saddam Ghallab killed near Bab al-Mandab

Houthi field commander Saddam Mutahar Ghallab, known by the nickname ‘Abu Atan’, has been killed during clashes at the strategic Kahebub front near the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The fighting involved the Houthi militia and the Southern Al-Amaliqa Forces.

Ghallab, who held the rank of colonel, previously served in several security roles, including security director for the Houthit-controlled districts of Houth and Bani Suraym in Amran, as well as Al-Makhadir and Yarim in Ibb governorate. He was a graduate of the Air Defense Institute in 2009 and had participated in various fronts, including Marib and the West Coast.

The death of Ghallab occurs amid intensifying combat in the Kahebub mountains, a region of high strategic importance overlooking the international shipping lane. Recent reports indicate heavy casualties among Houthi fighters in this area as the group attempts to consolidate control over islands and coastal positions near the strait.