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Yemen Launches Major Offensive Against Houthis Amid Rebel Gains in Key Areas
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Firstpost•04-10-2026, 19:38
Yemen Launches Major Offensive Against Houthis Amid Rebel Gains in Key Areas
- •Yemen's Saudi-backed government announced a major military operation to retake territory controlled by Iran-backed Houthis, as stated by President Rashad al-Alimi.
- •The offensive aims to restore state control across Yemen, despite recent Houthi advances, including seizing the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
- •Houthi forces have made fresh gains around Taiz, capturing strategic hilltops and threatening to cut off the city from Aden, the government's base.
- •Control of the route to Taiz could besiege the city, home to hundreds of thousands of civilians and thousands of government troops, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
- •The renewed fighting intensifies Yemen's humanitarian crisis, displacing tens of thousands and worsening food insecurity, with a battle for Taiz potentially deepening the crisis further.
Key Questions Answered
Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi announced a major military operation in a televised address to restore state control after Houthi forces made significant territorial gains, including seizing the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and advancing toward Taiz.
Saudi Arabia is backing the military offensive by preparing for an assault on Houthi-held areas and is expected to provide air support while Yemeni forces take the lead on the ground.
The renewed clashes have displaced tens of thousands of people, disrupted essential supplies, and caused widespread hunger, with the World Food Programme reporting that roughly three in four families in parts of Yemen are going hungry.
