In brief
The Yemen government, backed by Saudi Arabia, has announced a large‑scale operation to retake lands seized by the Iran‑aligned Houthi movement. The attack follows a series of strikes on Saudi oil infrastructure and a broader escalation that saw the Houthis seize the Red Sea coast in September. President Rashad al‑Alimi declared the campaign on national television, pledging to restore state control over all national territory. Other reports note the Houthis have already cut supply routes to Taiz, isolating the city. With Saudi forces reportedly striking Al‑Masirah and the Houthis claiming victories over Aramco sites, the conflict could expand beyond Yemen’s borders, raising regional security concerns.
Yemen’s Saudi‑backed government has announced a major military operation to seize back territory from Iran‑backed Houthis amid mounting hostilities.
The decision follows an exchange of air and missile strikes between the Houthis and the Saudi‑led coalition over the past week. The Houthis claimed they had hit Saudi Arabian Aramco sites and that this was retaliation for 50 coalition strikes in a 12‑hour window, an attack Saudi authorities have not yet commented on.
The conflict escalated in September when the Houthis captured Yemen’s entire Red Sea coastline, including the Bab al‑Mandab Strait, disrupting a vital maritime oil corridor. Since then, Saudi‑backed forces have been attempting to roll the Houthis back from key locations such as Taiz and Saada.
President Rashad al‑Alimi addressed the nation from a podium in Riyadh, stating: "Today we launch a military operation to reclaim the remaining republic territory and extend the state’s authority across the country."
While the Houthis continue to target Saudi oil facilities, claims of success over Aramco sites have not been verified by Saudi officials. In the meantime, Saudi strikes on Houthi positions have reportedly wounded at least two people, according to Al‑Masirah TV.
The broader war, which began in 2014 when the Houthis seized Sanaa, has already caused a severe humanitarian crisis. The return of active fighting in August—controversially expanded by the wider Middle East conflict—has reignited hostilities and heightened regional tensions.
