The Yemeni government announced on October 4 a large-scale military operation to reclaim territory held by the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels. As the Houthis have recently expanded their control over the Red Sea and Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, Saudi Arabia has stepped in to support the Yemeni forces, escalating the ongoing civil war.
According to reports from Reuters and the Associated Press, Rashad al-Alimi, chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, declared in a televised address, "Today, I announce the start of a military operation to reclaim the remaining territory and extend the authority of the state and its institutions across the entire country. We will continue our offensive until we liberate the nation from the grip of terrorist militias."
On October 2, Reuters reported that Saudi and allied Yemeni forces were preparing an offensive against the Houthis, with Saudi troops expected to lead air operations while Yemeni government forces would handle ground assaults. The United States is reportedly providing intelligence support for Saudi operations.
This counteroffensive comes as the Houthis have been pressuring Taiz, Yemen's third-largest city, in a large-scale assault over the past 48 hours. The Houthis have advanced toward key roads connecting Taiz and Aden, the temporary capital of the Yemeni government.
Taiz is home to hundreds of thousands of civilians and thousands of government troops. If the city is besieged, it could exacerbate Yemen's already severe humanitarian crisis.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) recently reported that intensified fighting has led to the displacement of tens of thousands and disrupted supplies for millions, with three out of four households in some areas of Yemen facing hunger.
Last month, the Houthis launched a surprise offensive, seizing control of the Red Sea coast and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait region within weeks.
The Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, located at the southern entrance of the Red Sea, is a crucial maritime route connecting the Mediterranean and Asia. Its strategic importance has increased this year due to disruptions in oil transport through the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing conflict with Iran.
On the same day, the Houthis claimed to have launched ballistic missiles and drones targeting Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh, and oil facilities in the Khurais area, located 150 kilometers southeast of Riyadh.
The Houthis stated that their attacks caused significant fires and were a response to 50 airstrikes and missile attacks carried out by the Saudi-led coalition against Yemen in the past 12 hours.
The conflict in Yemen escalated following the political turmoil that erupted during the 2011 Arab Spring, allowing the Houthis to expand their influence. They seized the capital, Sana'a, in 2014, prompting Saudi Arabia to intervene militarily in 2015 under the pretext of supporting the internationally recognized Yemeni government.
A UN-brokered ceasefire was established in 2022, but fighting has intensified this year following Houthi attacks on Saudi vessels and oil infrastructure last month.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.