Yemen’s government declares military offensive against Houthis
Yemen’s internationally recognised government has announced the start of military operations to retake territory held by the Iran-aligned Houthis, as government forces said they were conducting strikes in the capital Sanaa and the Houthi stronghold of Saada.
“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,” al-Alimi said. The head of Saudi-backed Yemen’s presidential council, Rashad al-Alimi, announced the operation in a televised address on Sunday, saying the objective was to restore state authority across the country.
Fighting between the Iran-backed Houthis and forces aligned with the Saudi-backed government had largely subsided after a 2022 truce, but hostilities have intensified again amid the wider conflict involving Iran and the United States. Houthi-run Al Masirah TV earlier reported an attack on Sanaa that it said was carried out by Saudi Arabia. There was no immediate Saudi confirmation of the reported strike. Following al-Alimi’s announcement, heavy ground fighting broke out in Yemen’s Kahboub Mountains overlooking the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, with government forces backed by al-Subaiha tribesmen clashing with Houthi fighters, Al Jazeera reported.
A spokesperson for Yemen’s armed forces, which are aligned with the internationally recognised government, said forces were targeting what he described as “vital targets” in Sanaa and Saada, without providing further details.