Yemen's legitimate government has announced the launch of a military counter-offensive to recapture areas controlled by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The operation is supported by intelligence and military assistance from the United States and Saudi Arabia.
Rashad al-Alimi, the chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, officially announced the start of the operation in a speech on Sunday, October 4. He stated that the goal of the operation is "to reclaim the remaining areas and extend state sovereignty over all of Yemen," adding that the decision was made after all opportunities for de-escalation were exhausted.
This move comes days after Reuters, citing Western and regional sources, reported that Saudi Arabia was preparing for a military operation against the Houthis. The objective of that operation was described as securing shipping lanes in the Red Sea and retaking coastal areas and the strategic Bab el-Mandeb strait.
The website Axios has also reported that retaking Sana'a, Yemen's capital which has been under Houthi control for years, and gaining full control over the Bab el-Mandeb strait are primary goals of this counter-offensive. The strait is a vital passageway for global trade and Saudi Arabia's oil exports.
According to the report, the Yemeni government and Saudi Arabia had been planning this operation for weeks. It is said to involve tens of thousands of ground troops loyal to the Yemeni government, with the Saudi military primarily responsible for providing air cover and targeting Houthi positions.
The control of coastal areas near Bab el-Mandeb by the Houthis and their backer, the Islamic Republic of Iran, has provided them with significant leverage. The strategic importance of this strait has increased even more given recent disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Source: Axios, Reuters
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