Agadir – Yemen announced the launch of a major military operation today to reclaim territory controlled by the Houthi movement, amid escalating fighting and growing concerns over the security of key Red Sea shipping routes.
Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi announced the operation in a televised address, saying it aims to restore state authority across the country.
“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 announcement follows reports by regional and Western officials that Saudi Arabia and its Yemeni allies were preparing a major offensive against the Houthis, with Saudi forces expected to lead aerial operations while Yemeni forces conduct ground operations.
The planned offensive comes as the Houthis have made significant territorial gains in recent weeks, including seizing the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Yemen’s conflict escalates amid regional war
Yemen has been involved in a civil war since 2014, when the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, and forced the recognized government to flee.
In 2015, Saudi Arabia intervened at the head of a military coalition supporting the Yemeni government in an attempt to reverse the Houthi takeover and restore the government’s authority.
The conflict has since drawn in regional powers, particularly Saudi Arabia and Iran, with Tehran allegedly backing the Houthi movement.
The war has also triggered one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, displacing millions of people and leaving large parts of the population dependent on humanitarian assistance.
The conflict has intensified again this year amid the wider war involving Iran. The Houthis have launched missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi shipping and oil infrastructure, widening the confrontation and threatening regional stability.
The escalation has further aggravated Yemen’s already difficult humanitarian situation, with renewed fighting displacing tens of thousands of people and disrupting essential supplies to millions.
The World Food Programme (WFP) warned last week that three in four families in some parts of Yemen were facing hunger as a result of intensified fighting and deteriorating humanitarian conditions.
The renewed clashes have also disrupted supply routes and increased pressure on communities already struggling with food shortages, limited access to healthcare, and displacement.
