The Yemeni military has announced a broad set of strikes against Houthi targets, marking a new campaign to retake all territory lost to the Iran-backed group. This development comes a month after the government lost significant territory along the Red Sea coastline and the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait. The declared offensive sets an ambitious goal for the beleaguered Saudi-backed government. The conflict in Yemen has escalated, with the Houthis making fresh gains on the ground.
The Houthis launched a lightning offensive in September, resulting in hundreds of combatant casualties and over 145,000 displaced people, according to UN figures. The war in Yemen predates the wider Middle East conflict but has become the most active front in recent weeks. The Yemeni military spokesman reported that over 1,000 strikes were launched against Houthi positions, including artillery and rocket launcher sites, defensive fortifications, and supply lines.
Despite the government strikes, Houthi advances on the ground remain unchecked. On Sunday, the group effectively encircled the key city of Taiz after cutting the main supply route linking it to the interim government capital of Aden. Taiz city remains under government control but has been besieged by Houthi fighters from the north, east, and west. The city is one of the main fronts in Yemen's long-running civil war.
The conflict has drawn in Saudi Arabia, the leader of an anti-Houthi military coalition since 2015. The Houthis have regularly claimed attacks on Saudi territory and declared a blockade of its ships in the Red Sea. Yemen is one of the poorest countries in the world and has been gripped by a vast humanitarian crisis since the civil war broke out in 2014.
The Houthis seized the capital Sanaa from the Saudi-backed government in 2014 and went on to control much of the country's north. The Riyadh-led international coalition intervened the following year. Ahmed Nagi, a senior analyst for Yemen at the International Crisis Group, noted that it is too early to say if the government strikes mark a decisive turning point in the conflict.
The fighting in Yemen has resulted in a significant humanitarian crisis, with widespread displacement and casualties. The situation in Taiz city remains critical, with the group effectively encircling the city and cutting off its main supply route. The international community continues to monitor the situation, with concerns about the escalating conflict and its humanitarian implications.
The Yemeni government's counter-offensive aims to retake lost territory and restore control over the country. However, the effectiveness of the strikes remains to be seen, and the conflict's outcome is uncertain. The situation on the ground continues to evolve, with both sides suffering casualties and the humanitarian crisis deepening.
Key points
- The Yemeni military has launched over 1,000 strikes against Houthi targets in a bid to retake lost territory.
- The conflict has resulted in significant humanitarian implications, including widespread displacement and casualties.
- The outcome of the conflict remains uncertain, with the effectiveness of the government strikes yet to be seen.
