Yemen’s government announced Sunday that it is launching military operations to retake areas seized by the Houthi terrorist organization—the first such declaration since the current escalation began. The announcement came days after Yemeni authorities declared general mobilization and raised military readiness.
1+A government spokesman said the operation aims to restore government authority and institutions across all of Yemen: “The state has moved from the preparation phase to the action phase. The army, security forces, and all military forces will begin carrying out their missions according to approved plans.” He said the decision to launch military operations came after “exhausting all opportunities for de-escalation.”
The spokesman’s statement comes as the Houthis have scored several gains in the fighting after capturing areas under government control, most importantly the coastal strip near the Bab al-Mandab strait. The government didn’t sit quietly and responded to Houthi aggression, but it appears that until now they hoped for a temporary arrangement—as had been the case in the conflict that began in 2015.
1+The Yemeni escalation comes after a report claimed that Saudi Arabia itself is planning to launch an offensive against the Houthis. According to the report, the attack is expected to begin in the coming weeks, with options under consideration including an operation on the Yemeni coast to secure the shipping route through Bab al-Mandab, or an attack on multiple fronts simultaneously. The report also noted that forces of the internationally recognized Yemeni government would lead the ground operation, accompanied by Saudi airstrikes.