Yemen's internationally recognised government declared an all‑out war on Sunday, launching a large‑scale military operation to recapture territory held by Iran‑backed Houthi forces. President Rashad al‑Alimi announced the offensive from the capital, saying the campaign aims to restore state authority throughout the country after weeks of back‑and‑forth strikes between the Houthis and the Saudi‑led coalition.
Government Offensive and Strategic Goals
According to statements from the Yemeni presidency, the operation will focus on key strongholds in the south‑west, including the contested Taiz governorate, where fighting has intensified over the past month. Government forces have already reported striking Houthi positions in Saada, Sanaa and Saada provinces, and claim to have disrupted a vital supply route that fed the besieged city of Al‑Hudaydah.
In a televised address, al‑Alimi said: "We will not rest until every inch of Yemeni territory is back under state control."
"We will not rest until every inch of Yemeni territory is back under state control," President Rashad al‑Alimi said during his announcement.
Yemeni officials cited a spokesperson who tallied 97 anti‑Houthi operations carried out in the preceding 48 hours, ranging from artillery bombardments to precision airstrikes coordinated with the Saudi‑UAE coalition.
Houthi Claims and Coalition Response
The Houthi movement, which controls the capital Sanaa, countered the announcement by claiming a missile and drone strike on Saudi Aramco facilities in Riyadh. The New York Times reported that the rebels said the attack targeted a refinery complex, while Saudi‑led coalition officials dismissed the claim as "misleading" and said no damage was confirmed.
Saudi Arabia’s coalition spokesperson reiterated that the alliance would continue its air campaign against Houthi targets, emphasizing that any alleged strike on Saudi soil would be met with "decisive" retaliation. The coalition also announced additional sorties over Houthi‑held areas of Taiz and Marib, aiming to degrade the rebels' command‑and‑control capabilities.
Al‑Jazeera noted that the Houthis have been increasingly bold in projecting power beyond Yemen’s borders, a strategy Tehran is believed to support. The rebel movement has previously claimed attacks on Saudi infrastructure, though independent verification has been limited.
On the ground, fighting in Taiz has escalated as government forces push to seize strategic high ground and road junctions that link the city to the rest of the south. Al‑Jazeera described the battles as “fierce and urban,” with both sides employing artillery, mortars and small‑arms fire, leading to civilian displacement and heightened humanitarian needs.
International observers, including the United Nations, warn that the renewed offensive could exacerbate an already dire humanitarian crisis. More than 24 million Yemenis are estimated to need assistance, and the intensified combat threatens to further disrupt food deliveries and medical supplies.
Analysts cited by the Washington Examiner suggest that the conflict is entering a new phase, with the Yemeni government seeking to capitalize on recent territorial gains while the Houthis aim to demonstrate resilience through high‑profile claims such as the alleged Aramco strike. The outcome of this escalation remains uncertain, but the heightened military activity underscores the fragility of any cease‑fire prospects and the risk of broader regional fallout.
