Rashad al-Alimi, the leader of the Saudi Arabia-backed Yemeni government, announced that a large-scale military operation has been launched to take back the regions controlled by the Iran-backed Houthis. It was reported that the operation came after the advances made by the Houthis in recent weeks around the Bab al-Mandab Strait and Taiz.
In his speech broadcast on television, Al-Alimi said, "Today, I declare the start of military operations in order to recapture the remaining lands of the republic and spread the authority of the state throughout the country."
Regional and Western officials had previously stated to Reuters that Saudi Arabia and its Yemeni allies were preparing a large-scale operation against the Houthis.
According to the plan, Saudi Arabia is expected to undertake air operations, while forces affiliated with the Yemeni government will carry out the ground operation.
Saudi Arabia intervened in the civil war in Yemen in 2015 to support the internationally recognized government. In the same year, the Houthis took control of the capital Sanaa and expelled the government from the city.
The ceasefire reached between the parties in 2022 was largely preserved. However, this year, the conflicts intensified again as the Houthis launched missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi Arabia's shipping and oil infrastructure as part of the regional repercussions of the war in Iran.
BABULMANDEP IS UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE HOUTHIES
Despite government forces' preparations for a counter-attack, the Houthis largely maintain the initiative on the field.
Weeks ago, the Houthis advanced along Yemen's western coast and took control of the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait. Government forces reportedly retreated at many points during this attack.
Located at the southern exit of the Red Sea, Babülmandep stands out as one of the most important maritime trade routes between the Mediterranean and Asia. After the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed due to conflicts in Iran, the strategic importance of Bab al-Mandap increased even more.
According to military sources, the Houthis have made new gains against the government and local forces in the strategic hills near Taiz in the last 48 hours.
It was stated that the Houthis are advancing towards the last land connection between Aden and Taiz, the center of the Yemeni government backed by Saudi Arabia.
It is considered that if the Taiz-Aden road comes under the control of the Houthis, Taiz, Yemen's third largest city, may come under de facto siege.
It is reported that there are hundreds of thousands of civilians as well as thousands of government soldiers in the city.
“IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO TAKE BACK COASTAL AREAS”
Taiz-born Yemeni journalist and political analyst Muhammad al-Qadi said that the Houthis' capture of the mountainous regions in the western Taiz countryside will strengthen their dominance around Bab al-Mandab.
Al-Qadi stated that control of these areas would give the Houthis a defensive advantage against a possible counter-attack on the coastline and make it difficult for government forces to retake the lost areas.
The intensification of conflicts also aggravates the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
The World Food Program said last week that three in four families face hunger in some parts of the country.
It was stated that the recent conflicts displaced tens of thousands of people and negatively affected millions of people's access to food and basic needs.
