Yemeni Forces Launch Counteroffensive to Retake Sanaa from Houthis in One of the Most Dangerous Countries
Reporting based primarily on aljazeera.com.
Yemeni government forces have launched a major counteroffensive against the Houthis in one of the most dangerous countries, vowing to retake the capital Sanaa in one of the most serious escalations since a 2022 truce.
Yemeni Government Launches Counteroffensive
Yemen’s deputy defence minister, Major-General Samir Al-Sabri, said in remarks broadcast on state television that the internationally recognised Saudi Arabia-backed government has decided to “retake Sanaa”. [3] Majid al-Nuzaili, a spokesman for Yemen’s government-aligned forces, said the objective of the campaign was to “liberate Yemen from the grip” of the Houthis “and restore Sanaa as a capital for all Yemenis”. [1] He also warned civilians to avoid several major roads leading into Sanaa, saying the alert applies to routes connecting the capital with Marib and al-Jawf, including roads through Nihm, Sirwah, Mahliyah and al-Hazm. [1] Rashad al-Alimi, the head of Yemen’s Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council, claimed sweeping gains against the Houthis, crediting government forces with advances in al-Jawf, al-Bayda, Taiz and Hodeidah. [1] “Our armed forces will continue to carry out their constitutional duty until state institutions are restored and their authority extends over the entire territory of Yemen,” al-Alimi said in a statement. [1]
Intensified Fighting Across Key Provinces
Fighting intensified on Monday in the provinces of al-Bayda and al-Jawf, seen as the main gateway to the capital. [1] The hostilities mark one of the most serious escalations since a United Nations-brokered truce in 2022 halted large-scale fighting. [1] Clashes spread to the provinces of al-Dhalea, Marib, al-Jawf and al-Bayda. [1] Al-Jawf is particularly important because it borders Saudi Arabia and connects towards the province of Saada, the Houthis’ main stronghold. [1] Al-Bayda is strategically significant because it lies at the centre of Yemen and connects eight governorates – four in the north and four in the south. [1] Last week, the Houthis launched a major offensive, trying to advance through western Taiz and southern Hodeidah, towards the port city of al-Makha and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea. [1]
Mounting Casualties and Displacement
The World Health Organization said on Monday that nearly 900 people have been killed or wounded since Thursday, with the majority in Taiz and along the western coast. [1] It said an estimated 21,000 people – roughly 3,000 families – have been displaced from Taiz alone. [1] The casualty count is expected to rise further as it does not include figures from Monday. [1] The media centre of the government-aligned forces reported carrying out several air attacks against Houthi positions west of Taiz late on Monday. [1]
Background to the Yemen Conflict
The war in Yemen began in 2014 after the Houthis took Sanaa, prompting a Saudi-led military intervention the following year. [1] Diplomats had hoped the truce in 2022 would evolve into a durable political settlement, but those efforts have faltered amid regional tensions triggered by the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran. [1] Fighting in Yemen resumed in July, when government forces struck the Houthi-controlled airport in Sanaa, blocking the landing of an aircraft from Iran. [1] Earlier, the Houthis had declared a blockade against Saudi vessels transiting the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which is a vital corridor for shipping between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. [1]
Competing Claims from Both Sides
The media centre said that government-aligned forces had also advanced to the outskirts of Dhi Na’im district in al-Bayda. [1] For their part, the Houthis said they repelled a large-scale advance by Saudi-backed forces towards the al-Labanat mountains in al-Jawf. [1] In a post on X, Mohammed al-Farah, a member of the Houthi political bureau, claimed that dozens of government-aligned fighters were killed or wounded and that Houthi forces also targeted reinforcements in al-Jawf with several ballistic missiles. [1] He said the strikes destroyed or damaged dozens of vehicles and armoured vehicles, and claimed that commanders were among those killed or wounded. [1] The group also released footage of what they said shows a ballistic missile strike on trucks carrying military equipment from Saudi territory at the al-Wadiah camp in the southeastern Hadramawt camp. [1] Al Jazeera could not independently verify the claims by the Houthis or the Yemeni government. [1]
UN Warning on Risk of Full-Scale War
UN envoy Hans Grundberg urges all parties to halt hostilities and exercise maximum restraint to prevent the risk of the escalating Yemen conflict erupting into full-scale war. [4]
What to watch next: Government forces are expected to continue air strikes on Houthi targets while the Houthis have signalled further use of ballistic missiles against reinforcements.
