Yemen’s internationally recognised government has launched a major military offensive against the Houthi movement, with government forces claiming advances around the key strategic posts along the Red Sea coast. The offensive, formally named “Operation Dawn of Yemen” by President of the Presidential Leadership Council Rashad Al Alimi, today aims to retake territory held by the Houthis, restore state institutions and regain control of the capital, Sanaa, which the group has controlled since 2014. Al Alimi had announced the start of the military campaign a day earlier, saying it was aimed at reclaiming the remaining Houthi-held territory and extending state authority across Yemen.

Yemen’s armed forces said they carried out 1,122 precision operations against Houthi targets across Saada, Al Jawf, Taiz and the western coast. Military spokesman Colonel Majed Abdullah Al Nuzaili said the operations targeted artillery and rocket-launcher positions, defensive fortifications, supply routes, reinforcements and command-and-control centres.

Government forces also reportedly claimed to have taken control of positions around Bab Al Mandab and the Dhubab area. Another news report, citing military sources, claimed that government forces had advanced around Bab Al Mandab and retaken Mocha, while Houthi forces had retreated from parts of the coast.

Saudi Arabia is providing significant military backing to the Yemeni government offensive. Major General Turki Al Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, said 100 fighter jets took part in operations on Monday and that the coalition was providing continuous air support to Yemeni forces. He said 324 “high-value” targets had been destroyed.

The escalation also prompted an emergency meeting of the Makkah Alliance for Defence, bringing together Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye. The three countries agreed to move towards the implementation of collective-defence commitments, including the rapid deployment of agreed military forces and capabilities to Saudi Arabia, subject to existing arrangements and the national laws of the member states.

The developments today mark a major escalation in Yemen, with the internationally recognised government seeking to reverse Houthi territorial gains, Saudi Arabia providing military backing and the Houthis threatening Saudi airspace.