Yemen Government Launches Major Offensive Against Houthis

2026, October 4

Yemen / Saudi Arabia / Iran

Yemen's internationally recognized government has announced a major military operation to retake territory held by the Iran-backed Houthi movement. The campaign combines Saudi-led airstrikes with Yemeni ground forces, following a sharp deterioration in the truce that had largely held since 2022.

The escalation has international significance because the Houthis have recently captured territory around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial shipping route connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Their advances toward Taiz and the Taiz–Aden road threaten both regional stability and commercial shipping, while the humanitarian consequences are already severe, with millions of Yemenis facing hunger and displacement.