Yemen Declares All-Out War to Reclaim Houthi Territory — SkimNews
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- Yemen's internationally recognized government, led by President Rashad al-Alimi, announced the "start of military operations to retake the remaining territory of the republic" in a televised address on Sunday
- Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed the group struck Saudi Aramco sites in Riyadh and the oil-rich Khurais area with ballistic missiles and drones, stating the operations "successfully achieved their objectives" and caused large fires; Saudi Arabia has not commented
- The Houthis seized Yemen's entire Red Sea coastline last month, including the Bab al-Mandab Strait, cutting off Saudi Arabia's alternative oil export route to the Strait of Hormuz and benefiting the group's main sponsor, Iran
- Houthi forces cut a vital supply route linking Taiz with Aden — the Yemeni government's interim capital — effectively encircling Taiz, which remains under government control, per AFP and Chatham House's Farea Al-Muslimi
- Saudi Arabia, the key backer of Yemen's government, has been exchanging strikes with the Houthis and is unlikely to have greenlit al-Alimi's announcement without direct involvement, per the source's framing
- The Yemen war reignited in July amid widening Middle East conflict after years of relative calm, with Sanaa having been held by the Houthis for over a decade since their 2014 seizure of the capital
Why it matters: Saudi Arabia is being pulled into direct military confrontation with the Houthis at a moment when the Houthis already control Yemen's Red Sea coast and Bab al-Mandab Strait — cutting off Saudi's alternative oil export route to the Strait of Hormuz and advancing Iran's regional strategy. The Yemeni government's declaration of all-out war comes as the Houthis have encircled the key government-held city of Taiz, suggesting the announcement is a response to tactical losses rather than a position of strength.
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