Yemen’s Saudi-backed government launches military drive to retake all Houthi-held territory

Yemen’s internationally recognised administration has declared a broad military campaign to reclaim every region currently controlled by Houthi forces, according to an official announcement made on Sunday.

Rashad al-Alimi, who heads the country’s presidential council, declared the start of operations aimed at regaining the remaining sections of the nation and reasserting state power across the entirety of Yemen. The declaration establishes a sweeping objective for the Saudi-backed leadership, which has struggled to contain recent advances made by the Iranian-aligned movement.

The government's declaration followed a major tactical setback on the ground, with Houthi forces severing an essential transit route between the interim capital of Aden and the contested city of Taiz. Security and police personnel reported that Houthi fighters captured the al-Safiya district, seizing its police station and blocking traffic along the primary road. Military officials confirmed that the maneuver has effectively encircled Taiz city, where clashes have continued.

Heavy combat across Taiz province and surrounding boundary areas has resulted in substantial casualties. Sources from both factions told AFP that more than 70 people died over the course of a single day of clashes. Government sources stated that 34 loyalist soldiers were killed, including 20 in the neighboring province of Lahj. Meanwhile, Houthi military sources reported that 39 of their fighters died in confrontations spanning Taiz and adjacent border areas.

While central Taiz continues to be held by government troops, it has been subjected to a sustained siege from multiple directions for years, remaining a critical focal point in the civil war. The government recently surrendered wide stretches of the Red Sea coast as well as territory adjacent to the strategic Bab al-Mandab maritime strait following a swift Houthi push.

The conflict has also escalated beyond Yemeni borders. Houthi military representative Yahya Saree claimed that the group fired ballistic missiles and unmanned aircraft targeting facilities run by energy giant Aramco in Riyadh and Khurais, sparking major blazes. The Houthis asserted these strikes were launched in retaliation for roughly 50 aerial bombardments conducted by the Saudi coalition within a 12-hour period.

Saudi authorities did not immediately verify the claims of infrastructure damage. However, Houthi-affiliated media stated that Saudi air raids hit northern areas in Saada and al-Jawf on Sunday, leaving at least two people injured. The clashes highlight the escalating challenges facing the Yemeni government and its regional allies as they attempt to reverse recent territorial losses.