Yemen’s Saudi-backed government announces offensive to retake Houthi-held territory

Sanaa, Yemen. The leader of Yemen’s Saudi-backed government announced on Sunday the start of a major military operation to seize territory controlled by the Iran-backed Houthis.

Government announces military operation

“Today, I announce the start of military operations to retake the remaining territory of the republic and extend the authority of the state and its institutions across the entire national territory,” Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi said in a televised address.

Regional and Western officials told Reuters earlier this week that Saudi Arabia and its Yemeni allies were planning an assault on the Houthis, with Saudi forces leading aerial combat and Yemeni forces fighting on the ground.

Al-Alimi said he had ordered the armed forces, security forces and all military formations to carry out their assigned tasks under approved plans.

He said the decision to launch the counteroffensive followed the exhaustion of all opportunities for de-escalation, accusing the Houthis of responding to efforts to calm the conflict with further mobilisation and escalation.

“Our position today is to assume the national responsibility of confronting the Houthi militia, after all opportunities for de-escalation have been exhausted,” he said.

Houthis claim attacks on Saudi Aramco sites

The Houthis said they had launched ballistic missiles and drones at Saudi Aramco sites in Riyadh and the Khurais area of Saudi Arabia, claiming the attacks caused major fires.

They said the attacks were a response to 50 Saudi-led air and missile strikes on Yemen over the previous 12 hours.

There was no immediate confirmation from Saudi Arabia.

Saudi involvement in Yemen’s civil war

Saudi Arabia entered neighbouring Yemen’s civil war in 2015, leading an Arab coalition in support of the internationally recognised government, which the Houthis had driven out of the capital, Sanaa.