Saudi-backed forces recaptured several key areas around the Bab al-Mandab Strait from Iran-backed Houthi rebels, Yemeni officials said on Monday, retaking the town of Dhubab just north of the strait along with the towns of Bab and Hadeid.

Towns retaken north of the strait

The areas were reported back in the hands of forces allied with Yemen's internationally recognized government. The Yemeni officials who described the recapture spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief reporters.

The officials named the retaken towns as:

• •Dhubab, a crucial town just north of the Bab al-Mandab Strait
• •Bab
• •Hadeid

Witnesses reported seeing government tanks and troops entering the recaptured towns. The Bab al-Mandab Strait is a chokepoint for international shipping.

An offensive to retake all Houthi territory

The push began early on Monday under air cover from the Saudi military coalition, with the stated aim of retaking all territory the Houthis hold.

It followed a Houthi claim that the rebels had captured more territory in the south-western part of Yemen, taking the key town of Turbah. The fall of Turbah was a blow to the Saudi-backed forces as they advanced toward the strategic provincial capital of Taiz, Yemen's third-largest city.

The new offensive carries an ambitious goal. The embattled government recently lost swathes of the country's Red Sea coastline and areas around the Bab al-Mandab Strait in a lightning Houthi offensive, and it has struggled to reverse the surge even with the military support of Saudi Arabia.

Coalition: 100 jets over the battlefield

Saudi-led coalition spokesperson Maj Gen Turki al-Malki said 100 fighter jets were backing the forces of Yemen's internationally recognized government against the Houthis. He said the coalition had secured air protection of the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait and had destroyed hundreds of Houthi targets in the ongoing campaign.

Washington expects a counterstrike

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters it was expected that the Saudi-backed government in Yemen would hit back at the rebels to reclaim territory.

Asked whether the Saudi-led coalition had coordinated the action with Washington, Rubio said Saudi Arabia and the United States have a defense agreement, but he offered no further details.

Rubio noted that the Yemeni government had been driven from some of its territory by a Houthi campaign and that the Saudis had come under attack. He said:

The offensive launched early on Monday remains under way, still aimed at retaking all territory the Houthis hold.