Yemen’s government announces an offensive to retake Houthi-held territory
Rashad al-Alimi, head of Yemen’s internationally recognised government, announced military operations to recover territory held by the Houthis. His televised address set a nationwide objective as fighting continued around Taiz. The announcement comes after renewed exchanges involving the Saudi-backed government and the Iran-backed movement. It sets out the government’s intended campaign; it does not establish that its forces have regained the areas they seek to capture.
Geopolitics··Night
Al-Alimi orders a campaign against Houthi-held areas
Rashad al-Alimi, leader of Yemen’s internationally recognised government, announced on Sunday that military operations had begun to recover areas held by the Houthis. The BBC and Azernews reported his televised address. He said the campaign aimed to extend the authority of the state and its institutions across Yemen. The government is backed by Saudi Arabia; the Houthis are an armed movement supported by Iran. Al-Alimi’s declaration sets a nationwide military objective while the front remains contested.[1], [2]
Taiz faces the loss of its supply road to Aden
Taiz remains under the internationally recognised government’s control, but AFP reported on Sunday that Houthi forces had cut the supply route linking it to Aden, the government’s interim capital. Three Yemeni military sources told the agency that the Houthis controlled the route and surrounding area. Chatham House researcher Farea Al-Muslimi said the movement had isolated Taiz from Aden without fully capturing the city. Yemen’s government had said on Saturday that it struck Houthi positions near Taiz and in Sanaa and Saada.[1]
Renewed fighting follows years of relative calm
The Houthis seized Sanaa in 2014 and went on to control much of northern Yemen. Saudi Arabia intervened the following year at the head of an international coalition. After several years of relative calm, the war intensified again in July. A Houthi offensive last month took the Red Sea coastline, including the Bab al-Mandab shipping passage. Those battlefield changes form the setting for the government’s new declaration. Yemen remains caught in a severe humanitarian crisis as the authorities announce another attempt to restore their territorial control.[1]
