In brief
In a televised address from Riyadh, President Rashad al‑Alimi announced that Yemen would launch an all‑out war to re‑establish control over its remaining lands, following a series of Houthi advances that seized the coastal corridor and the capital. The announcement came after the Houthis struck Saudi oil facilities and the Saudi‑led coalition intensified strikes on Yemeni targets. Al‑Alimi’s government, backed by Saudi Arabia, has been fighting to regain authority over Taiz, Sanaa and Saada, while the Houthis cut vital supply routes linking Taiz to Aden, further tightening their grip. The new offensive threatens to deepen the humanitarian crisis in one of the world’s poorest countries, as heavy aerial bombardments and ground battles continue to devastate civilian areas.
All‑Out War Declared by Yemen’s Government
In a dramatic televised address from Riyadh, President Rashad al‑Alimi announced that Yemen would now wage an all‑out war to reclaim every territory seized by the Iran‑backed Houthi rebels. He called the strikes “military operations to retake the remaining territory of the Republic and extend the authority of the state across the entire national territory.”
The declaration followed a month of sharp escalation: the Houthis claimed to have struck Saudi Aramco sites after 50 coalition strikes in 12 hours, while Saudi forces increased air strikes on Houthi positions in Sanaa, Saada and the Taiz region. Both sides have intensified efforts to control critical supply routes, with the Houthis cutting the link between Taiz and the interim capital of Aden.
Al‑Alimi’s announcement was widely seen as a direct consequence of Saudi backing, as the Gulf kingdom has been under relentless pressure from Houthi attacks on its oil infrastructure. The president described the offensive as a necessary response to “the hostile advances of the Houthi coalition.”
The conflict’s human toll has risen sharply. The war that began in 2014, when the Houthis seized Sanaa, has dragged Yemen into a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Recent Houthi victories over the Red Sea coast and the city of Taiz have further restricted humanitarian access, while the new offensive threatens to widen the gridlocked siege around the capital.
Experts warn that renewed hostilities could entangle Saudi Arabia more deeply, with potential spill‑over effects on global oil markets. The international community remains divided, with some urging restraint amid the escalating violence that continues to devour civilian lives and infrastructure.
