• The head of Yemen’s governing council, ⁠Rashad al-Alimi, has ‌announced the start of major military operations to retake ⁠territory held by the Iran-backed Houthis.

Yemen’s leader ​announces ​operation ​to retake Houthi-held ​territory

Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council chair Rashad al-Alimi announces military operations to retake Houthi-held territory and restore state authority nationwide.

Saudi-led coalition vows to ‘restore the state and end the Houthi coup’ in Yemen

Major-General Turki al-Maliki, a spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen, says the group continues to “provide full operational support” to Yemeni government forces to “restore the state and end the Houthi coup”.

In a statement on X, al-Maliki condemned Houthis’ attacks on Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Saudi vessels in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb strait. He said Saudi Arabia would continue to defend its security and sovereignty, as well as regional and international security.

The renewed hostilities are the most serious since a United Nations-brokered truce halted large-scale fighting in 2022.

Houthi capabilities growing, forcing Yemeni forces and allies into ‘change in calculus’

Ibrahim Jalal, a Yemeni defence analyst, says Saudi-backed government and its allies face a rival in the Houthis that has transformed into a formidable force in recent years.

The missile arsenal of the Houthis, the precision of their drones and their military “capabilities have grown” with support from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), he said

And having joined the US-Israel war on Iran on their own timeline, the Houthis have reinforced their place in Tehran’s “axis of resistance” and given the IRGC a way to shift pressure from the Strait of Hormuz to Bab al-Mandeb in the Red Sea, he said.

But the Houthis also have domestic goals, he said. After their lightning advance into Bab al-Mandeb, “they’re trying to secure their gains by controlling” key mountains and “isolating” the city of Taiz from the city of Aden, the Yemeni government’s interim capital, and the province of Lahij. This would increase the pressure on Aden and “allow an expansion of the territorial advance toward the economic centre of gravity” or the city of Marib.

That city “has been under a less level of pressure but is likely to emerge eventually as the next centre of gravity”, he said.

The Houthis’ strength and gains have prompted a “change in calculus” within the government and among its allies, Jalal said, as reflected in President Rashad al-Alimi’s announcement of a major new military operation.

Yemen’s government calls for international help to defeat Houthis

The foreign minister of Yemen’s internationally recognised government is asking the international community for more support to defeat the Houthis, saying it’s “in the world’s interest” for the country to be stable.

“We call upon our brothers, friends, and the international community to support the Yemeni people, their state, and their national institutions in confronting the terrorist Houthi militia, which seizes their will by force of arms and lays waste to the lives of their sons — after exhausting all opportunities for de-escalation and peace,” Afrah Al-Zouba said in a post on X.

“The danger posed by this militia and its crimes has transcended Yemen’s borders, and putting an end to its aggression and terminating its treacherous coup has become a shared national, regional, and international responsibility and interest that demands a firm stance and effective support.”

Yemeni government forces claim 1,122 attacks against Houthi positions

A spokesman for Yemen’s government aligned forces has claimed 1,122 attacks against Houthi sites, including artillery positions, rocket launchers and command and control centres.

In a post on X, Brigadier General Majid Abdullah Al-Nuzaili said the attacks, using warplanes, drones, missiles, rockets, artillery and snipers, took place in the provinces of Saada, Al-Jawf, Taiz and the country’s coast. He claimed some 1,747 Houthi fighters were killed.

The battlefield report cannot be verified. It comes after the Saudi-backed government launched a major offensive to retake all Houthi-held territory in the country

Top officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan gather in Riyadh

Pakistan’s Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has arrived in Saudi Arabia to attend a meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee of the members of the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement.

Defense Minister Khawaja Asif and army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir are accompanying Dar in Monday’s talks with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and Turkey, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said in a statement on X.

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan signed the pact on August 7 to strengthen collective deterrence and expand defence cooperation.

The meeting comes a day after the Yemeni government announced the launch of a major military operation against the Houthis.

Yemen military operations against Houthis could take years

The ⁠military operations by the Saudi-backed government of Yemen to retake the ⁠⁠territory held by ⁠⁠the Houthis will be long and difficult, according to Baraa Shiban, an Associate Fellow in International Security at the Royal United Services Institute.

“All signs are pointing towards a long battle,” Shiban said.

“We might be witnessing yet another round of years of conflict inside Yemen. And unfortunately, it’s the Yemeni public, who are going to bear the brunt of this escalation,” he said.

He noted that while people hope this operation ends soon, the reality is much different.

“I don’t think it’s going to be an easy and quick operation,” he said. “We might be looking into years.”

Shiban added that the long-running conflict also points toward a failure of the international community who, despite a ceasefire in 2022, has been unable to achieve any breakthrough or progress.

“The UN envoy to Yemen hasn’t been able to meet the Houthis for more than two years now. So, it’s a failure on all levels. Of course, internally, but also for the mediators and for the international community,” he said.

Based on what is written on the left, the general mobilization issued two days ago by the Yemeni government could lead to lots of casualties among the poorly trained conscripts.

Riyadh meeting marks ‘first real test’ for Mecca Joint Defense Agreement

Today’s meeting of officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan is a “test” for how the trio will implement their Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, an analyst says.

Although the three countries agreed to the pact in August to expand defence cooperation, “they’re still working through some of the details on how to operationalize this,” said Mohamad Elmasry, a media studies professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies.

Likely to top the agenda is Riyadh’s desire for support in the fight against the Houthis, Elmasry said.

“The Turks and the Pakistanis will be willing to provide some level of support, … but I think the question is what kind of support and how much support,” he said.

The meeting follows the launch of a major Yemeni government military operation against the Iran-backed Houthis.

Although Islamabad has sent military and logistical support, “the challenge for Saudi is that the timing is so bad,” Elmasry said, referring to the US-Israel war on Iran. “No one wants to be dragged into another war right now.”

Yemeni gov’t forces claims gains from Houthis near Bab al-Mandeb

The army of Yemen’s internationally recognized government says it seized Dhubab district near Bab al-Mandeb Strait after launching a “decisive military operation” against the Houthis.

“Forces from the Homeland Shield Forces and the Giants Brigades carried out a large-scale military operation with air cover targeting Houthi militia positions and movements in several areas of the district,” it said in a statement.

“During the operation they advanced and seized important positions – cutting off supply lines and roads leading to Bab al-Mandeb.”

Yemen’s government forces claim regaining control of Bab al-Mandeb strait

The army of Yemen’s Saudi-backed government says it has “succeeded in controlling” the Bab al-Mandeb strait and recaptured a nearby airport in the coastal town of Dhubab in the governorate of Taiz.

In a series of posts on X, Brigadier General Majid al-Nuzaili said Yemen government forces had taken over the airport and tightened control in the area.

Some Houthi fighters escaped via boat after being besieged, he added.

Yemen’s government forces earlier said they seized the Dhubab district during a “decisive military operation” against the Houthis.

The military operation is ongoing, al-Nuzaili said.

‘Dawn of Yemen’ operation launched to liberate capital Sanaa

The chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council says the “Dawn of Yemen” military operation has begun to “restore state institutions and liberate the capital Sanaa and end the Houthi militia coup”.

“With God’s help, the will of our people, the bravery of our armed forces and all military formations, and the support of our brothers and friends, Yemen will move toward a new dawn of freedom, peace, and stability,” Rashad al-Alimi said in a post.

The Houthis – an Iran-backed armed group also known as Ansar Allah – captured Sanaa by force in 2014 and later imposed their own government. They also control northern and northeastern parts of Yemen and seized strategic areas near the Red Sea coast last month.

⁠Saudi Arabia-backed al-Alimi on Sunday announced the start of the military offensive to retake all territory held by ⁠⁠the Houthis.

Saudi-led coalition says air cover near Bab al-Mandeb hitting Houthi targets

The Saudi Arabia-led military coalition says more than 300 “high value targets” have been hit in Yemen as allied ground forces battle the Houthis.

“We are providing air support to back the Yemeni armed forces on the ground around the clock,” its spokesman said. “Dealing with moving targets is ongoing.”

He added more than 100 fighter jets participated this morning in “Operation Dawn of Yemen”.

Yemen armed forces says Houthi fighters retreating by boat from coast

Colonel Majed Abdullah al-Nazili, spokesperson for the Yemeni armed forces, says Houthi fighters have fled areas along the Red Sea coast after ground troops engaged them supported by air cover.

Earlier, the armed forces said the coastal town of Dhubab, in Taiz governorate, is now in its hands.

“Dhubab Airport is under the control of government forces. The forces cut off the road between Dhubab and Mocha and tightened fire control over it,” said al-Nazili in a post on X.

“Hundreds of besieged Houthi elements in the Dhubab area must surrender themselves to the government forces. Some Houthi militia fled by boats across the sea after being besieged,” he added.

This means nothing, as he is not telling what kind of boat, how many boats, and how many Houthis are fleeing to where.

Yemeni army begins ‘strategic offensive’ to retake Sanaa from Houthi control

The army of Yemen’s Saudi-backed government says it began a “strategic” assault on the capital to recapture it from the Houthi rebels.

“Our armed forces have begun carrying out a strategic offensive operation on Sanaa,” Brigadier-General Majid al-Nuzaili said in a post on X.

“We are using modern capabilities in the strategic offensive operation,” he said.

The Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah network reported in a post on Telegram there was a Saudi attack on Sanaa.

In an earlier post, al-Nuzaili said the Yemeni army “succeeded in controlling” the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and recaptured a nearby airport in the coastal town of Dhubab in the governorate of Taiz.

Houthis believe now is the time to seize Yemen ‘in its entirety’

The new military operation launched by Yemen’s Saudi-backed government against the Houthis “natural sequence of events” after the militia rapidly seized territory over the past month, an analyst says.

Baraa Shiban, associate fellow in international security at the Royal United Services Institute, noted after years of relative calm tensions ratcheted up in July, “and things kept escalating from there”.

The Houthi seizure of the strategic city of Mocha along the Red Sea coast last month ultimately kicked things off, he said.

“What they tried to do is basically go inwards to solidify their capture because they need the highlands overlooking the west coast of Yemen. And that’s where they are they are right now trying to fight their way into the city of Taiz,” Shiban said.

Strategic Taiz connects the northwest of the country where the Houthis are in control to the southern region where Yemen’s government holds power in Aden, he noted.

“So they [Houthis] can’t go to Aden until they have solidified their presence in central Yemen. They’re energized by the events of September, and they think this is the time to take the country in its entirety,” said Shiban.

Negotiated settlement in Yemen slips further away as fighting rages

Mohamad Elmasry, a professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, says it’s unlikely a diplomatic off-ramp will be available to halt fighting with the new offensive launched by Yemen’s Saudi-backed government.

The Houthis also are not “going to be in the mood for a negotiated agreement”, he said.

“They may want to expand their control, take over more territory, and better improve their bargaining position,” Elmasry said.

“There are reports over the just past couple of hours that the government allied forces are moving on parts of the west coast, including Dhubab, and they may have been able to take over some of that area,” he added.

“That’s still not confirmed – the Houthis are denying that – but I think the situation is so dynamic that we really do have to wait and see how the next couple of days play out.”

Yemen’s army offensive ‘new phase in battle to restore the state’

The ongoing assault by the army of Yemen’s Saudi-backed government represents a “new phase in the battle to restore the state”, Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani says.

Al-Eryani wrote on X the military operation aims to “extend authority … over every inch of Yemen’s land”.

“The recovery of land, islands, and strategic positions in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait … directly contributes to safeguarding one of the world’s most vital maritime passages and securing international trade and navigation, after the Houthi militia turned it into a tool for extortion and threats,” he said.

“Restoring the state is not the end of the road, but the beginning of a new phase,” the minister added.

Yemen’s army ‘on the right track’ to defeat Houthis: Minister

Yemeni Assistant Defence Minister Major-General Samir Al-Sabri has said that the first phase of the army’s military operation against the Houthis will focus on the Bab al-Mandeb strait and the port city of Mocha.

He said the army of the Saudi-backed government was “on the right track” to defeat the Houthis.

“We seek to restore state authority across all Yemeni governorates. We expect liberation operations to proceed smoothly and easily in the near future,” he said.

“We have launched coordinated counterattacks, and the government intends to accelerate efforts to extend its authority,” Al-Sabri added.

Yemen government strategy to engage Houthis on multiple fronts

The army of Yemen’s internationally recognised government is seeking to ensure the Houthis are forced to fight in several areas at once.

The Saudi-backed forces want to engage the Houthis on multiple fronts so they cannot be concentrated in one area and try to take back control of that strategic Red Sea coast.

The offensive adds weight to today’s meeting of the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement in Riyadh because what really energised the pact were the strikes by the Houthis on Saudi territory.

The Houthis’ reliance on cheap drones that are difficult to defend against has allowed them to strike targets almost on a daily basis.

For the Mecca pact to effectively become a unified chain of command, there’s a lot that needs to happen in the background. It will take time for them to figure out the legalities of this, the operational arrangements of this, and how each country participates.

Yemen gov’t moves from ‘defence to offence’ against Houthis for first time in years

The Yemeni government’s military strategy over the past month to “exhaust” Houthi fighters has so far been “a tactical success”, says London-based defence analyst, Ibrahim Jalal.

“I think this latest move actually has the chance of translating into a domino effect across multiple axes if the Yemeni armed forces and their aligned formations launch a multi-front offensive. And I think that’s being developed at the moment,” Jalal said.

He noted that few details about the operation to recapture the capital Sanaa from the rebels have been released, and it will take time to see how it plays out.

“All of this indicates a new phase because for the past two months the Houthis have been deciding the timing and geography of the battle. Now, the government of Yemen has moved from defence to offence for the first time since 2018. So what we’re seeing at the moment is a strategic move with clear objectives,” he said.

Jalal said it remains unclear if international forces will assist the Saudi-led coalition in its efforts to oust the Houthis and “secure the land” of Yemen.

Houthi control of Bab al-Mandeb another step in US defeat: Iran

A senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei says the Houthis new influence over the Bab al-Mandeb strait is “another step in the larger defeat of the United States in the region”.

Major-General Yahya Rahim Safavi, quoted by Iran’s Fars news agency, also described President Trump as “irrational”, saying the US failed to handle the Gulf’s “security arrangements” despite spending hundreds of billions of dollars on military bases and weapons.

The army of Yemen’s Saudi-backed government says it has reclaimed control of the Dhubab district and key positions near Bab al-Mandeb, a day after it announced the launch of a major military operation against the Houthis.

The Houthis denied the claim.

Yemeni forces take control of Mocha, reports pro-gov’t news agency

Yemen’s pro-government Saba news agency is quoting a military source as saying that Yemeni government forces have taken control of Mocha, a strategic port city west of Taiz province seized by the Houthis last month.

Yemen’s government armed forces confirm retaking Mocha from Houthis

Yemen’s armed forces fighting for the internationally recognized government say they’ve taken control of the port city of Mocha after “fierce fighting with the Houthis” who had captured the strategic city last month.

In a post on X, Yemen’s Armed Forces Media Centre said a military source told the pro-government Saba news agency that battles took place in several areas around Mocha, resulting in a number of Houthi casualties.

No reports of Yemeni gov’t forces seizing mountainous regions

No independent report exist stating that government forces were able to take control of the mountainous regions: The military base of Khalid Ibn al-Walid, which is east of Mocha and west of the city of Taiz and also the military position of Jabal al-Nar.

These are two strategic military sites leading to the takeover of Mocha and of Bab al-Mandeb that the Ansar Allah Houthis first took control of and drove out government forces from this chain of mountainous regions.

The Houthis are rejecting claims by government forces that they’ve taken control of Mocha and saying that for the most part, the clashes are focused south of Bab al-Mandeb.

Earlier clashes have been confirmed south of Bab al-Mandeb in Yemen

Yousef Mawry in Sana'a reports:

The clashes are intensifying, and we have confirmation that most today took place south of Bab al-Mandeb.

If Yemeni government forces were to engage or try to recapture Dhubab in the city of Mocha, it would have to come from the south of Bab al-Mandeb, as opposed to the mountainous region in the district of al-Wadea east of Mocha, Dhubab and Bab al-Mandeb.

The vast mountainous region oversees the entire vicinity.

Still, we haven’t had any reports that forces of the internationally recognised government are taking over any of those areas in that part of the country.

Saudi-led coalition carrying out military operation in Hodeidah

⁠The ⁠Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen’s ⁠Houthis says its naval forces ‌carried out a military operation in the Hodeidah ⁠governorate.

A spokesperson for the coalition said weapons depots, explosive boat warehouses and sea mines were destroyed.

Houthi-affiliated media reported air strikes on Kamaran Island and al-Salif District in Hodeidah governorate.

Houthis says airport in Riyadh, Aramco refinery in Rabigh targeted

Houthi military spokesperson says the Yemeni group targeted King Khalid Airport in Riyadh as well as the Aramco refinery in Rabigh.

The spokesperson added that Abha Airport, Khamis Mushait Airbase and sites in Najran and Jazan provinces in Saudi Arabia were also targeted.

UN chief concerned by ‘sharp escalation’ of fighting in Yemen

UN chief Antonio Guterres has raised the alarm over the “sharp escalation” of fighting in Yemen, his spokesman says.

“The Secretary-General is deeply concerned by the sharp escalation in fighting, which has intensified markedly in recent days. He condemns the continued Houthi cross-border attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” said his spokesman, Stephane Dujarric.

Saudi Arabia says Mecca alliance agrees to ‘activate collective deterrence measures’ to respond to attacks

Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman has issued a statement following an emergency meeting in Riyadh of the signatories of the Mecca pact, a joint defence agreement signed by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan.

The minister said the meeting “reaffirmed the solidarity and unity of our countries in confronting” the Houthis’ “heinous attacks against the Kingdom and the holy sites”.

He added that the countries “agreed to activate collective deterrence measures within the framework of the Alliance in response to the attacks and all those responsible for them”.

Turkey, Pakistan agree rapid military deployment to bolster Saudi security

A ⁠committee ⁠of the Mecca defence pact comprising Turkey, ⁠Saudi Arabia and Pakistan has “decided to … take the necessary measures to provide the agreed military forces and capabilities and ensure their rapid deployment in the kingdom”.

A joint statement following the emergency meeting of officials from the three countries today also “condemned in the strongest terms the attempted targeting of Mecca and Madinah… reaffirming their unequivocal rejection of any attack or threat against the kingdom’s security and territorial integrity”.

“The committee decided to move immediately to the practical implementation of the collective defence commitments and to take the necessary measures to provide the agreed military forces and capabilities and ensure their rapid deployment in the kingdom … thereby enhancing readiness, military integration, and the collective capacity to confront and counter threats,” the statement added.

“The parties affirmed that the security of each party is an integral part of the collective security of the three countries.”

Mecca defence pact activation ‘a turning point’ for regional security

Abdulaziz Ghashian, a senior non-resident fellow at the Gulf International Forum, says the decision by Turkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to activate deterrence measures in response to Houthi attacks against the kingdom marks a turning point in the alliance.

“Firstly, there’s an immediate [impact] and I think it is to take this alliance seriously. I think the Houthi attacks and the provocations that it did in recent weeks and months really hastened and inspired the Mecca Alliance,” he said.

He added that the events “really helped [in] pushing the structure” of the defence pact, which the three countries signed in August with a pledge to provide defence if one country is attacked.

He said one of the goals was to combat narratives – particularly emanating from Israel – that have attempted to discredit the alliance, adding that the activation highlighted “a manifestation of a regional security architecture”.

“I think now we’re beginning to see how this is fleshed out. It’s a critical juncture in the history of the region, in my opinion.”

GCC chief reaffirms support for Saudi-backed Yemeni government

The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jasem al-Budaiwi, has reaffirmed the bloc’s “steadfast and supportive stance” towards Yemen, according to a GCC statement.

In a phone call with Yemeni Foreign Minister Afrah al-Zouba, they discussed recent developments in the region and al-Budaiwi reiterated that security in Yemen was of collective interest as a fundamental point to ensuring stability across the GCC as a whole.

Too late for diplomacy in Yemen at this stage of the conflict

We are past the possibility of diplomacy in Yemen at this stage in the conflict, says Nawaf Obaid, senior research fellow at King’s College London.

“It’s just too late. There’s been too much done. They have attacked the pipeline, they have attacked refineries, they attacked a power station in Medina. How much can a country take before patience wears off? And this is what we’re seeing today,” Obaid said.

As Turkiye and Pakistan agree to deploy forces to Saudi Arabia, the stakes have grown much higher, Obaid suggested.

“Let’s not forget, this is a coalition. There are various countries involved in there, that have already taken part in this war. And they’re all locked in, they all want to see the degradation and the elimination of the Houthi capability to wage war.”

Saudi Foreign Ministry condemns Houthi attacks on civilian areas

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry has condemned Houthi attacks on civilian areas, economic facilities and religious sites.

The kingdom also reiterated its “full political and military” support for the Yemeni government and called on the international community, particularly the permanent members of the UN Security Council, to provide support.

Seizing Yemen’s heartland ‘a potential turning point’ for government forces

Hisham al-Omeisy, a senior Yemen researcher at the European Institute of Peace, about the emerging battlegrounds in the country following the launch of the major counteroffensive by government forces to retake territory held by the Houthis:

“A lot of people are so focused on the Red Sea because that’s what basically triggers the attention of the international community because of the maritime routes. But if you’re talking about the fighting inside Yemen, a turning point would be for the Yemeni government to take territories in the heartland, in the centre of the country; places like Taiz, places like al-Bayda, places like Ibb,” al-Omeisy told Al Jazeera.

He said the Houthis have mobilised a significant number of forces to control “the heart” of the country.

“If you manage to dislodge Houthis from there, then you have an opening to retake parts of the country in the north, which is basically the stronghold of the Houthis. Then, you have a different status quo,” added al-Omeisy.

“Other than that, this is just going to be about recapturing some territories on the west coast and some territories in the southwest of the country, but not really dislodging or defeating the Houthis,” he said.