
The “Yemen Dawn” operation launched by government forces entered its second day with the expansion of field gains in Taiz and Ma’rib and the opening of new axes, while Saudi Arabia affirmed its full support for the Yemeni Presidential Command Council and the legitimate government to end the Houthi coup and restore the state, during the cabinet session headed by Prince Mohammed bin Salman, where it stressed that the Houthi group chose military escalation instead of peace, deepened human suffering, and threatened the security of the region and the navigation movement in the southern Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
AI-generated summary
The war in Yemen has been continuing for years between government forces supported by Saudi Arabia and the coalition, and the Houthi group that controls parts of the country, including the capital, Sanaa, amid international efforts to end the conflict and rebuild the state.
Operation “Yemen Dawn” launched by government forces entered its second day with the expansion of field gains in Taiz and Marib and the opening of new axes, while Saudi Arabia affirmed its full support for the Yemeni Presidential Command Council and the legitimate government, to end the Houthi coup and restore the state and their institutions.
The Saudi position came during a Cabinet session chaired by Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, in Riyadh, where the Council confirmed that the Houthi group chose military escalation as an alternative to peace, deepening human and economic suffering, and threatening the security of the region and navigation in the southern Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
The Yemeni "Homeland Shield" forces launched a massive attack to liberate the Al-Wazi'iyah District in Taiz, and were able to control a strategic area overlooking Mount Mansoura, amid talk of a mass escape of Houthi elements. In the south of the governorate, the forces achieved new progress by liberating the Al-Mandhara, Al-Asharif and Dhiban mountains in the Haifan District, coinciding with violent confrontations in the Quds isolation in Al-Mawaset.
In Marib, government forces continued their advance south of the governorate, and took control of strategic sites and mountain ranges, including Thamad, Al-Qaymah, Al-Maqilat, Akd Al-Qaymah, and Al-Rasid, according to military sources who spoke of Houthi deaths, injuries, and prisoners, the destruction of combat equipment, and the downing of a drone.
On the western coast, the forces consolidated the gains of the first day around Dhubab, its airport, and Al-Omari camp, while continuing to move towards Mokha. The developments coincided with coalition strikes targeting the capabilities of the Houthi group on various fronts.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Government forces will continue to expand their control in Taiz and Marib in the coming days
Likely · Within days
Coalition strikes on the Houthi group's capabilities will continue on various fronts
Very likely · Within weeks
The "Ansar Allah" group announced that it had confronted the advance of Saudi forces towards Bab al-Mandab with ten ballistic missiles, while government forces confirmed the liberation of the Dhubab district as part of the "Yemen Dawn" operation.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi Crown Prince, donated blood to launch the annual national blood donation campaign for the year 2026, stressing support for humanitarian initiatives and promoting a culture of volunteerism, while the Council of Ministers discussed regional issues including Yemen, Syria, and international cooperation agreements.
The Sultanate of Oman carried out a medical evacuation for 10 crew members of the Panama-flagged merchant ship “One Piece” after it was targeted 9 nautical miles northeast of Lima in the Musandam Governorate, leading to a fire on board. India condemned the attack on the ship, saying that it was hit by a projectile while crossing the Strait of Hormuz and resulted in the injury of 12 crew members, including 11 Indians.
According to the expert report of the Center for Analysis of Global Arms Trade published in the Russian National Defense magazine, Poland ranked first in the world in the actual volume of arms imports for 2025 with a value of $11.910 billion, equivalent to 9.97% of total global military imports, with batches of Abrams and Korean K2 tanks delivered, and a new contract worth $6.5 billion for 2026-2030 deliveries.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched the national blood donation campaign for the year 2026 with his blood donation, while the Council of Ministers held a session chaired by him in Riyadh, during which it discussed regional developments and full support for Yemen, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs held contacts with his Egyptian and Jordanian counterparts.

The Sultanate of Oman carried out a medical evacuation of ten members of the crew of a commercial ship flying the Panama flag after it was targeted in the Gulf near Musandam Governorate, causing a fire to break out on board. The wounded were transferred to Khasab Hospital to receive care, amid continuing tensions between the United States and Iran that affect navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, while Qatar continues mediation efforts between the two parties.