Government forces say their counteroffensive against the Houthi terror group is expanding, while battlefield gains and prospects for foreign intervention remain unclear.

The Houthis and Yemeni government forces are battling for control of the critical Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

Al Jazeera cited an aide to the Yemeni defense minister as saying that "a decision has been made to liberate Sana." No further details were provided