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Yemen's Saudi-backed government launches offensive to retake Houthi-held territory

Yemen's Saudi-backed government launches offensive to retake Houthi-held territory

Force in Play

Saudi air power backs tens of thousands of ground troops aiming to retake the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and break the siege of Taiz

Today: Houthis cut Taiz-Aden road, encircling Taiz

Overview

Updated 48 minutes ago

Yemen's Saudi-backed government announced Sunday that it has begun military operations to retake territory held by the Houthi rebels. President Rashad al-Alimi said the offensive follows years of failed de-escalation attempts.

The campaign pairs Saudi air power with tens of thousands of Yemeni government troops. The goals: retake the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which the Houthis seized in September, and break the siege of Taiz, where Houthi fighters just cut the last road to Aden.

Why it matters

If the Houthis keep the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, they keep leverage over global oil and container shipping through the Red Sea.

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Key Indicators

257
Precision strikes in first day of offensive
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesman reported strikes against Houthi positions across Sanaa, Hajjah, Saada, Al-Jawf, Marib, Al-Bayda, Lahj and Taiz fronts.
700+
Houthi militants reportedly put out of action
Preliminary field estimates from Yemen's armed forces in the first day of operations.
97
Strikes on the Taiz axis and Tor al-Baha front
Separate wave targeting Houthi reinforcements near the besieged city of Taiz, putting 260 fighters out of action.

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People Involved

Organizations Involved

Timeline

April 2022 October 2026

4 events Latest: Today
Tap a bar to jump to that date
  1. Houthis cut Taiz-Aden road, encircling Taiz

    Today Escalation

    Houthi fighters severed the vital supply route linking Taiz with Aden, effectively encircling Yemen's third-largest city, home to hundreds of thousands of civilians.

  2. Al-Alimi announces military offensive against Houthis

    Today Military Operation

    President Rashad al-Alimi declared the start of operations to retake remaining Houthi-held territory. Saudi air power backed tens of thousands of ground troops; Yemeni forces reported 257 first-day strikes.

  3. Houthis seize Red Sea coast and Bab al-Mandab Strait

    Escalation

    Houthi forces took Yemen's entire Red Sea coast, including the vital Bab al-Mandab Strait, in a lightning offensive that saw government forces collapse.

  4. UN-brokered truce takes effect

    Ceasefire

    A truce between Yemen's warring parties largely held for years, freezing frontlines and preventing a full-scale resumption of war.

Scenarios

1

Yemeni forces break Taiz siege and retake Bab al-Mandeb coast

Possible Resolves by Apr 30, 2027

Discussed by: Reuters and Axios regional reporting on the operation's objectives

Government forces with Saudi air cover push the Houthis out of the rugged mountains overlooking the Bab al-Mandab area and reopen the Taiz-Aden road. This would restore government control over the strait's land approaches and relieve a besieged city of hundreds of thousands, shifting the conflict's trajectory for the first time since the 2022 truce.

2

Offensive stalls; Houthis hold gains and Taiz stays besieged

Possible Resolves by Apr 30, 2027

Discussed by: Regional officials cited by Axios; the pattern of past Saudi-led campaigns in Yemen

The offensive makes initial advances but hits entrenched Houthi defenses in mountainous terrain. Saudi airstrikes cannot dislodge fighters dug into the highlands, and the front returns to a grinding stalemate similar to previous years, with the strait remaining under Houthi influence.

3

United States enters direct combat against the Houthis

Unlikely Resolves by Apr 30, 2027

Discussed by: Axios, citing two US officials

If the operation faces serious setbacks, the United States shifts from intelligence and targeting support to direct airstrikes. Axios reported the United States is "not going to take kinetic action for now," but officials said that could change if the operation runs into problems. US Central Command has reservations about launching strikes, seeing it as a distraction from its focus on Iran.

Historical Context

3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

September 2014

Houthi takeover of Sanaa (September 2014)

Houthi fighters swept into Yemen's capital Sanaa, forcing the internationally recognized government to flee and triggering the current civil war. The group's rapid seizure of the capital demonstrated how quickly it could overturn the existing order when it moved.

Then

The government fled to Aden, and the country split between Houthi-controlled north and government-held south.

Now

Saudi Arabia intervened in 2015, and the conflict settled into a grinding, years-long stalemate with no military resolution.

Why this matters now

The September 2026 seizure of the Red Sea coast follows the same pattern of swift Houthi territorial gains, which is what prompted this new government counteroffensive.

March 2015

Operation Decisive Storm (March 2015)

A Saudi-led coalition launched airstrikes against Houthi positions to restore Yemen's internationally recognized government after the rebels advanced on Aden. The operation marked the start of direct Saudi military involvement in the civil war.

Then

The coalition halted the Houthi advance on Aden and pushed them back from southern Yemen over subsequent months.

Now

Despite years of air campaigns, the Houthis retained control of Sanaa and northern Yemen, and the war settled into a prolonged stalemate.

Why this matters now

The current offensive mirrors the 2015 playbook—Saudi air power backing Yemeni government ground forces—but faces the question of whether air strikes alone can dislodge entrenched Houthi fighters.

November 2023 – 2024

Houthi Red Sea shipping attacks (2023-2024)

The Houthis attacked commercial ships in the Red Sea with missiles and drones, disrupting one of the world's busiest shipping lanes for over a year. Major carriers rerouted around Africa, adding weeks to voyages and billions in costs.

Then

The United States and United Kingdom conducted airstrikes on Houthi targets; attacks eventually tapered off but shipping continued to face elevated risk.

Now

The episode showed how a non-state group controlling Yemen's coastline could impose global economic costs through the Bab al-Mandeb choke point.

Why this matters now

The Houthis' September 2026 seizure of the Bab al-Mandab Strait gives them the same leverage over global shipping, now backed by direct control of the coastline itself.

Sources

(12)