Yemen’s internationally recognized government led by the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) has announced a major military offensive to recapture all territories controlled by the Iran-backed Houthi militia.
In a televised address the President Rashad al-Alimi declared that armed forces would push forward until the country is liberated with citing the failure of all de-escalation efforts. The announcement follows a rapid Houthi offensive last month that seized the strategic Bab el-Mandeb strait and 150 kilometers of Red Sea coastline, posing severe threats to global shipping routes.
Regional and Western intelligence sources indicate that Saudi Arabia is providing air support and operational coordination for the ground offensive with defensive and intelligence assistance from Western allies.
Simultaneously, Houthi forces claimed to have launched ballistic missiles and drones at Saudi Aramco facilities in Riyadh and Khurais also alleging retaliation against recent Saudi-led airstrikes. No official confirmation was immediately issued by Riyadh.
The military escalation threatens to deepen an already severe humanitarian crisis. Houthi forces have recently advanced near Taiz, Yemen’s third-largest city also threatening to sever the primary supply route to Aden.
According to the World Food Programme, the surge in fighting has displaced tens of thousands of civilians, leaving three in four families in affected areas facing acute hunger.
