The head of Yemen's internationally recognized government announced the initiation of a military campaign aimed at reclaiming territory held by the Houthis. This announcement follows recent exchanges of strikes between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition. The Iran-backed Houthis reported attacks on sites belonging to Saudi national oil company Aramco, claiming these were in response to 50 coalition strikes within a 12-hour period. Saudi Arabia has not yet issued a comment on these claims.
Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi made the announcement during a televised address, stating, "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." The capital, Sanaa, has been under Houthi control for over a decade and has faced intensified attacks as government forces attempt to diminish the group's military strength.
The conflict has also spread to other regions, including Saada, the Houthi stronghold. Reports indicate that the Houthis have made strategic gains, including cutting off a vital supply route between Taiz and Aden, the interim capital of the Yemeni government. Farea Al-Muslimi, a research fellow at Chatham House, noted that the Houthis have effectively isolated Taiz from Aden.
Al-Alimi's announcement is believed to have been made with the approval of Saudi Arabia, which supports his government. The Houthis have targeted Saudi Arabia's oil infrastructure, with their military spokesman claiming successful missile and drone attacks on Aramco sites in Riyadh and Khurais. The Houthis stated that these operations caused significant fires at the targeted locations.
In response, Saudi Arabia has conducted strikes on Houthi positions, with reports indicating injuries from these attacks. Yemen has been embroiled in conflict since 2014, when the Houthis took control of the capital, leading to a Saudi-led intervention the following year. The war has escalated again following a Houthi offensive that allowed them to seize control of the Red Sea coastline, impacting Saudi oil export routes. Yemen continues to face a severe humanitarian crisis, being one of the poorest countries in the world.