Yemen Declares Major Military Offensive Against Houthis As Rebels Tighten Grip On Key Areas

Yemen’s Saudi-backed government has declared a major military offensive against the Iran-backed Houthis, after the rebels made fresh gains around Taiz, cut a key route to Aden and tightened their grip on the strategic Red Sea coast and Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Rashad al-Alimi, head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, announced the operation on Sunday, saying government forces would seek to retake Houthi-held territory and restore state authority across the country. “Today, I announce the start of military operations to retake the remaining territory of the republic,” he said in a televised address.

The announcement came as Houthi fighters captured the al-Safiya area near Taiz and cut the main road linking the city with Aden, the interim seat of Yemen’s internationally recognised government. Taiz remains under government control but has long been surrounded by Houthi forces, and control of the route could effectively tighten the siege around the city.

Yemeni forces have already struck Houthi targets in Sanaa and Saada, while government forces and their allies have reported intense fighting around Taiz. Saudi Arabia is leading air operations and supporting the Yemeni ground offensive, while the United States is providing intelligence and defensive assistance rather than directly leading the assault.

The escalation has also coincided with Houthi claims of missile and drone attacks on Saudi Aramco facilities in Riyadh and the Khurais area. Saudi Arabia has not immediately confirmed the Houthi claims.

The wider regional tensions were underscored by the expulsion of two Iranian diplomats from the United States. A US official said the two members of Iran’s UN General Assembly delegation ignored a State Department order to leave New York and were subsequently expelled. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi disputed Washington’s account.

Meanwhile, the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier arrived off Thailand’s Phuket island after a six-month deployment in West Asia. Nearly 4,800 personnel aboard the Nimitz-class carrier are scheduled for a five-day break after supporting US operations in the Central Command area. The visit follows the recent Thailand stop by the USS Abraham Lincoln, another US carrier returning from an extended West Asia deployment.