Yemen Launches Major Counteroffensive to Reclaim Houthi-Controlled Territory Amid Regional Talks

Yemen’s government has officially initiated a military operation aimed at recapturing land currently held by the Houthis and restoring complete state control throughout the nation. The Iran-backed Houthi rebel force, frequently referred to as Ansar Allah, has achieved major territorial advances over the past month, capturing extensive regions along the Red Sea coast.

In reaction to these developments, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan have convened to confer on the escalating situation in Yemen. These nations previously established a joint defence pact in August, which now faces a critical test due to the ongoing conflict.

As these events unfold, key questions remain regarding the underlying regional dynamics and whether the counteroffensive launched by Yemen’s internationally recognised government will yield tangible results on the ground.

The discussion features presenter Neave Barker alongside expert guests Abdulaziz AlGhashian, who serves as a senior non-resident fellow at the Gulf International Forum; Sama’a Al Hamdani, an independent political analyst specialising in Yemen and the GCC; and Timothy Lenderking, the former US special envoy for Yemen and former deputy assistant secretary of state for Arabian Peninsula affairs.