Yemen's Saudi-backed government announced a major operation to reclaim territory held by Iran-aligned Houthis, with Saudi air support expected and Yemeni forces to fight on the ground. The Houthis have retained the initiative after a swift coastal offensive that captured positions around the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Recent Houthi advances near Taiz threaten the last road to Aden and could place Taiz under siege, intensifying an already severe humanitarian crisis. The World Food Programme says three-in-four families in parts of Yemen are now facing hunger amid displacement and supply disruptions.
Yemen Launches Major Offensive to Retake Houthi-Held Areas as Houthis Press Gains Near Taiz
Members of the Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces ride on a military pick-up vehicle as they patrol a road leading to a frontline of clashes with Iran-aligned Houthi fighters, in Taiz province, Yemen, September 30, 2026. REUTERS/Ebrahim Al-Suhaibi
ADEN, Oct 4 — Yemen's Saudi-backed government announced on Sunday the start of a major military operation to reclaim territory held by the Iran-aligned Houthi movement. President Rashad al-Alimi said the campaign aims to "retake the remaining territory of the republic and extend the authority of the state and its institutions across the entire national territory."
Regional and Western officials had earlier told Reuters that Saudi Arabia and Yemeni allies were preparing a coordinated assault, with Saudi jets expected to lead air operations and Yemeni forces conducting ground attacks.
Houthi Lightning Offensive
Weeks ago the Houthis launched a rapid coastal advance that captured strategic positions around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and saw government units collapse in some areas. Bab el-Mandeb, the southern exit from the Red Sea, is a vital maritime passage between the Mediterranean and Asia and has grown in strategic importance this year as ships have sought alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz.
President of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council Rashad al-Alimi addresses the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), at the U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., September 25, 2025. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
Military sources said the Houthis have continued to press their advantage. In the past 48 hours they made further gains on strategic hilltops near Taiz, advancing on the last road linking the city to Aden, where the Saudi-backed government is headquartered. Control of the Taiz–Aden road would effectively place Taiz under siege, threatening hundreds of thousands of civilians and thousands of government troops stationed there.
"Capturing the rugged mountains above the coastal plain would strengthen Houthi control over the Bab el-Mandeb area and make any coastal counter-operation far more difficult," said Mohammed Al-Qadhi, a veteran journalist from Taiz now working as a political analyst.
The renewed fighting follows a ceasefire that largely held from 2022 until this year, when the conflict spilled over and the Houthis launched missile and drone attacks on Saudi shipping and oil infrastructure. The surge in hostilities has displaced tens of thousands, disrupted supplies to millions, and worsened an already dire humanitarian crisis.
Humanitarian Impact: The World Food Programme reported last week that in some parts of Yemen three in four families are going hungry due to the recent escalation of violence and interruptions to aid and commercial supplies.
(Reporting by Eman Abouhassira, Timour Azhari and Mohammed Ghobari; Editing by David Goodman, Louise Heavens and Alex Richardson)
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