Yemen Declares All-Out War to Retake Houthi Territory — SkimNews
Get the Geopolitics newsletter
Daily geopolitics — wars, elections, sanctions, the diplomatic moves that move markets. Free.
- President Rashad al-Alimi announced in a Sunday televised address the start of military operations to retake all Houthi-held territory and extend state authority across Yemen
- Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed the group struck Saudi Aramco sites in Riyadh and the eastern Khurais oil area with ballistic missiles and drones, asserting both operations caused large fires
- The Houthis said their Aramco strikes were retaliation for what they described as 50 Saudi-led coalition strikes in 12 hours; Saudi Arabia has not commented on Sunday's claimed attack
- The Houthis seized Yemen's entire Red Sea coastline last month, including the vital Bab al-Mandab Strait shipping lane, cutting off Saudi Arabia's alternative oil export route to the Strait of Hormuz
- On Sunday, the Houthis cut a vital supply route linking the key city of Taiz with Aden, effectively encircling Taiz according to AFP and Yemeni military sources
- Attacks have spread to Sanaa and the Saada region in the Houthi northern heartland, though security sources say the Houthis continue to make gains
- The Houthi Red Sea offensive benefited their main sponsor Iran and forced Saudi Arabia back into direct military confrontation with the group
Why it matters: Al-Alimi's escalation declaration would not come without Saudi Arabia's backing, pulling the kingdom deeper into a war with Houthis who now control Yemen's Red Sea coast — a chokepoint through which significant global oil trade flows. With the Houthis already encircling Taiz and striking Saudi oil infrastructure, an all-out campaign risks broadening a conflict that directly threatens Saudi Arabia's energy exports and, by extension, global oil markets.
Ask SkimNews
