Yemeni Leadership Orders Major Offensive Against Houthi Forces

Yemen's presidential council head Rashad al-Alimi declared a fresh military campaign on Sunday to regain control of all regions currently held by Houthi forces. The announcement arrives as the insurgent group advances further, effectively surrounding the government-held city of Taiz after seizing the al-Safiya area and cutting off its primary supply link to the temporary capital Aden.

Attacks

Security sources confirmed that the supply route closure followed intense battles in and around Taiz. Meanwhile, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree stated that the group targeted Saudi energy facilities belonging to Aramco in Riyadh and Khurais using ballistic missiles and drones on Sunday. The Al-Masirah television network reported subsequent Saudi airstrikes in the northern governorates of al-Jawf and Saada, which left at least two individuals wounded.

Context

Yemen has endured a severe humanitarian crisis and civil conflict since 2014 when Houthi fighters captured the capital city of Sanaa. A military coalition led by Saudi Arabia intervened in the conflict the following year to support the recognized government, though recent months have seen fighting intensify alongside wider regional tensions across West Asia.