Yemen’s Saudi-backed, internationally recognised government has launched a major military campaign to retake territory controlled by the Iran-backed Houthi movement, marking a sharp escalation in the country’s long-running conflict.
President Rashad al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, announced the operation in a televised address on Sunday. He said government forces had been ordered to restore state authority across the country.
Government Forces Target Houthi Positions
Yemeni military forces said they had carried out strikes against Houthi targets in Sanaa, Saada and Taiz.
The fighting has intensified around Taiz, where Houthi forces have attempted to strengthen their position along a key route linking the city with Aden. Government forces and their allies have also increased military activity along the Red Sea front.
The offensive follows recent Houthi advances along Yemen’s western coast, including gains around the strategically important Bab el-Mandeb area. The waterway is a major route for international shipping between the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Conflict Enters a Dangerous Phase
The Houthis seized Sanaa in 2014 and have since maintained control over large parts of northern and western Yemen.
A fragile truce that had reduced major fighting collapsed earlier this year, while recent battlefield advances have renewed fears of a wider conflict.
Saudi Arabia has backed Yemen’s internationally recognised government and is expected to provide significant military support to the new campaign. The United States has also provided intelligence support to Saudi operations, according to Reuters.
The Houthis have responded with missile and drone attacks against Saudi targets, raising the risk of further regional escalation.
Red Sea Security at Risk
The latest offensive could have consequences beyond Yemen.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is one of the world’s important maritime chokepoints. Any prolonged fighting near the waterway could threaten commercial shipping and increase pressure on already disrupted regional trade.
The escalation also comes amid wider tensions involving Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United States, increasing the possibility that Yemen could become another major front in the regional conflict.
For millions of Yemenis, renewed fighting could further worsen an already severe humanitarian crisis.
Source attribution: Reuters, Associated Press and Al Jazeera.
