Yemen Launches Major Military Campaign Against Houthi Rebels

Yemen's government has launched a major military campaign to retake territory controlled by the Houthi rebels, marking a significant escalation in the country's civil war. The move comes after weeks of intense fighting and major advances made by the Houthis along Yemen's Red Sea coast.

Rashad al-Alimi, chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, announced the new military campaign, which aims to reclaim all territory currently under Houthi control. This development follows a period of relative calm in recent years, broken by renewed clashes between the two sides over the past few weeks.

Government forces have reportedly made gains on the west coast, claiming to have recaptured the Dhubab district near the Bab al-Mandab strait after clashes with Houthi fighters. However, the Houthis deny that they have lost control of this strategic area.

The intensified fighting has resulted in over 100,000 people being displaced since July, when a fragile truce collapsed. This escalation marks a significant shift in the conflict, which had been relatively contained for several years before recent weeks' battles.

Last month saw a rapid Houthi offensive that captured extensive territory along Yemen's Red Sea coastline and areas surrounding Bab al-Mandeb, a critical waterway connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.

Yemen's internationally recognised government has called on the international community to provide more support in its fight against the Houthi militia, citing the need for stability in the country as being in the world's interest.

The appeal was made by Yemen's foreign minister, Afrah Al-Zouba, who described the Houthis as a terrorist group that seizes control through force and destroys lives. The request for support comes after efforts to de-escalate tensions and achieve peace have been exhausted, according to Al-Zouba.

The government army reported significant gains in its military operations against Houthi fighters in recent days. In the Saada, al-Jawf and Taiz governorates, as well as along Yemen's western coast, 1,747 Houthi fighters were reportedly neutralised in 1,122 separate military operations.

Military spokesman Majed Abdullah al-Nuzaili said that a range of assets, including warplanes, drones, artillery, missiles, and snipers, were used to target key Houthi positions. In addition, 364 military and logistical vehicles were destroyed or disabled in the operations, although independent verification of these figures is not available yet.

Fighting has intensified on the front line in Marib governorate, where government forces launched a major attack on Houthi positions on Monday.

According to a military source, the assault targeted Houthi forces on the Ragwan front in northern Marib, coinciding with airstrikes that struck Houthi strongholds and reinforcements in the area. The raids focused on areas near Mount Helan as well as an arms depot and incoming military supplies northwest of Marib.

The escalation comes after a weekend of Saudi-led coalition operations against Houthi forces in Taiz and other parts of Yemen. On Sunday, the coalition reported carrying out 97 attacks using warplanes, drones, artillery, missiles, and snipers to target Houthi reinforcements around Taiz and the Tor al-Baha front.

The conflict in Taiz has been marked by Houthi guerrilla tactics aimed at easing pressure on coastal areas and tightening the blockade of roads leading to Aden.

Government forces are facing stiff resistance on strategic hilltops near Taiz as Houthi fighters push forward along the last remaining road linking the city to Aden on Yemen's southern coast.

The Houthis have reportedly severed a vital supply route connecting the besieged city of Taiz with Aden, the interim capital of the Yemeni government. This development is expected to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Taiz, which has been under siege for an extended period.

Yemen's complex conflict began in 2014 when the Houthis seized control of Sanaa and much of the country's populous northwest. The Saudi-led coalition intervened militarily the following year but was unable to dislodge the Houthi group despite significant military resources at its disposal.

Ibrahim Jalal, a Yemeni defence analyst, believes that the government and its allies face a formidable adversary in the Houthis due to their growing military capabilities.

The Houthis' military capabilities have become a significant concern for the Yemeni government and its allies, who are fighting to restore state institutions and secure shipping routes in the Red Sea.

Saudi Arabia has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the internationally recognised government of Yemen, with coalition spokesman Major-General Turki al-Malki stating that Saudi Arabia and its allies will continue their efforts until the Houthi threat is neutralised. The continued support from Saudi Arabia underscores the complexity of the conflict, where multiple nations are involved in a multifaceted struggle.

The escalation of the war has also raised questions about regional security, particularly with regards to Iran's involvement through its proxy forces, the Houthis. Major-General al-Malki cited recent attacks on Saudi cities as justification for the country's military measures, asserting an "inherent right" to defend its sovereignty and protect its citizens.