Operation 'Yemen Dawn' Launched in Yemen, Progress Reported to Sana'a

At a time when new conflicts in the Middle East are on the horizon, remarkable developments are taking place in Yemen. While the conflicts between the Saudi Arabia-backed Yemeni government and the Iran-backed Houthis continue, an important step has come from the forces affiliated with Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni government that could change the situation on the ground.

Yemen Armed Forces Spokesperson Colonel Majid Abdullah en-Nezili announced in his statement that the "Yemen Dawn" operation has been launched on a comprehensive basis in order to target the Houthis' military capacity and elements. Nezili announced that government forces in Yemen managed to take control of the shores of the Bab al-Mandab Strait and Zubab Airport in Taiz. The Houthis rejected this statement and claimed that they had control of Bab al-Mandeb.

'Advancing to Sanaa'

Nezili also stated that "Our armed forces launched a strategic attack operation on Sanaa" and announced that they were advancing towards the capital held by the Houthis. Al-Mesire channel, affiliated with the Houthis, also confirmed a Saudi attack on Sanaa in a post on Telegram.

Stating that "modern facilities" were used in the attack in question, Nezili did not give any other details about the operation. As a matter of fact, Brigadier General Turki al-Maliki, Spokesperson of the Arab Coalition led by Saudi Arabia, stated that the coalition provides 24-hour air support to the Yemeni Armed Forces in their operations on the ground. Nezili emphasized that the "Yemen Dawn" operation will be continued with determination until the set goals are achieved.

Who is in control where?

Yemen's internationally legitimate government announced the previous evening that it would launch a large-scale military operation to take back all regions under the control of the Iran-backed Houthis. Rashid al-Alimi, Chairman of the Yemen Presidential Leadership Council, announced this decision to the public from Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.

This step by the Saudi Arabian and Yemeni government came after the Iran-backed Houthis advanced south of Taiz following the gains they made on the Red Sea coast and around Bab al-Mandab in September. The Houthis maintain their dominance in large areas in the north and west of the country, as well as in the capital Sanaa. Sanaa has been under Houthi control since 2014.