Yemen Government Launches Major Offensive Against Houthis, Al-Alimi Declares

The leader of Yemen’s Saudi-backed government announced on Sunday the beginning of a major military operation aimed at retaking territory controlled by the Iran-backed Houthis, saying that every opportunity for de-escalation had been exhausted, according to Reuters.

Rashad al-Alimi, head of the internationally recognised Presidential Leadership Council, said in a televised address: “Today, I announce the start of military operations to retake the remaining territory of the republic and extend the authority of the state and its institutions across the entire national territory.” He ordered the armed forces, security forces and all military formations to begin carrying out their assigned tasks, Reuters reported.

The announcement follows months of escalation. The Houthis, formally known as Ansar Allah, have held the capital Sanaa and large parts of northwestern Yemen since 2014. Last month they seized the strategic Bab el-Mandeb strait and around 150 kilometres of Red Sea coastline in a rapid offensive, giving the group new leverage over one of the world’s most important shipping routes — leverage that has grown as the wider conflict with Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz.

As al-Alimi spoke, the Houthis claimed they had launched ballistic missiles and drones at Saudi Aramco sites in Riyadh and the Khurais area, causing large fires, in response to what they described as 50 Saudi-led air and missile strikes over the previous 12 hours. Saudi Arabia has not confirmed either the airstrikes or the Houthi claims.

The renewed fighting has already forced tens of thousands of people from their homes, and further escalation could disrupt Red Sea shipping and deepen Yemen’s humanitarian crisis.

Sources

• CNN: Yemen’s Saudi-backed government announces major offensive against Iran-backed Houthis
• Reuters (via Superhits 97.9): Yemen leader announces major military operations against Iran-backed Houthis
• Reuters (via Froggy 99.9): Yemeni government launches offensive to seize all areas from Iran-backed Houthis