Yemen Government Launches Major Offensive to Retake Houthi Territory Amid Escalating Conflict

Yemeni government soldiers have gathered near the Jabal Han front, west of Taiz, following fierce battles as the Houthis reportedly try to seize control of the main route between the inland city and the coastal city of Aden. Yemen’s internationally recognised government has announced a major military campaign to retake all territory controlled by the Houthis, marking a new escalation in a civil war that had largely been frozen for several years before intensified battles in recent weeks.

The announcement by Rashad al-Alimi, chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), comes after weeks of heavy fighting and major Houthi advances along Yemen’s Red Sea coast and around the strategically important city of Taiz. On Monday, Yemeni government forces stated they were launching a strategic offensive on the capital Sanaa, which the Houthis have held since 2014. Earlier in the day, Saudi-backed Yemeni forces reported regaining control of the Dhubab district on the west coast near the Bab al-Mandab strait, though the Houthis denied the claim.

The conflict between the Iran-aligned Houthis and Yemeni government forces has expanded since a fragile 2022 truce collapsed in July, displacing more than 100,000 people. Last month, the Houthis launched a rapid offensive capturing about 150km of Red Sea coastline and areas around Bab al-Mandeb. Foreign Minister Afrah Al-Zouba requested increased international support to confront the Houthi militia, stating it is in the world's interest for Yemen to achieve stability.

Military spokesman Majed Abdullah al-Nuzaili reported that 1,747 Houthi fighters were neutralised across multiple governorates, while coalition forces carried out numerous airstrikes and ground operations. Meanwhile, Houthi operations around Taiz have utilized guerrilla tactics to tighten blockades and ease pressure on coastal fronts, as analyst Ibrahim Jalal notes the growing military capabilities of the Houthis with support from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Saudi Arabia has pledged continued support for the internationally recognised government. Coalition spokesman Major-General Turki al-Malki stated that the coalition will continue supporting Yemen until state institutions are restored and maritime threats to shipping in the southern Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb are eliminated.