RismadarVoice Reporters
October 4, 2026
Yemen’s internationally recognised government has announced the start of a major military offensive aimed at retaking territory controlled by the Houthi movement and restoring state authority across the country.
Rashad al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, announced the operation on Sunday, saying government forces had moved from preparation to active military operations after efforts at de-escalation failed.
Al-Alimi said the armed forces, security services and other military formations had been instructed to carry out operations under an approved plan to restore government control over remaining Houthi-held areas.
The announcement comes amid intensified fighting between government forces, backed by Saudi Arabia, and the Iran-aligned Houthis, particularly around Taiz and other strategically important areas.
Yemeni government forces also claimed that at least 700 Houthi fighters had been killed during operations over a 24-hour pe24 hoursajed Abdullah al-Nazili, a spokesman for the government forces, said the military carried out 257 operations targeting Houthi positions, movements and military capabilities.
The casualty figure has not been independently verified.
The Saudi-led coalition supporting the Yemeni government also said it conducted dozens of operations against Houthi positions around the Taiz axis and Tor al-Baha front.
The Houthis, meanwhile, claimed to have launched missiles and drones against Saudi Aramco facilities in Riyadh and Khurais. Saudi authorities had not immediately confirmed the reported attacks.
The renewed offensive follows recent Houthi territorial gains and an escalation in fighting that has further destabilised Yemen after years of conflict.
The Houthis have controlled the capital, Sanaa, and large parts of northern Yemen since 2014, while the internationally recognised government operates primarily from Aden and other areas outside Houthi control.
The latest escalation is also unfolding against wider regional tensions involving Iran and the United States, raising concerns that Yemen could become an increasingly significant front in the conflict.
Maritime security has also deteriorated around key regional shipping routes.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations recently reported attacks involving commercial tankers in and around the Strait of Hormuz and waters near Oman, including a crude oil tanker struck by an unidentified projectile.
Authorities have not established responsibility for the latest attacks.
The renewed fighting has heightened concerns about Yemen’s already severe humanitarian situation, with continued conflict threatening further displacement and disruption to food supplies and essential services.
