Yemen’s internationally recognized government has launched a major military campaign to retake territory held by the Iran-backed Houthi movement, declaring what it called a “battle for liberation.” The offensive marks a major escalation in Yemen’s long-running conflict.
Government forces, backed by Saudi Arabia, are targeting Houthi positions across several fronts as they seek to restore control over territory lost during the civil war. The campaign also focuses on strategically important areas near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
President Rashad al-Alimi has said the military operation will continue until Yemen is fully liberated from Houthi control. The government says its objective is to restore national sovereignty and reassert authority over areas controlled by the group since it seized Sanaa in 2014.
The escalation comes after years of conflict and follows the collapse of a truce that had largely reduced major fighting since 2022. The renewed battles are also unfolding amid wider regional tensions involving Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United States.
The offensive could have wider regional consequences because the Bab el-Mandeb is a major maritime route connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. As Yemen’s government pushes to regain territory, the renewed fighting is adding another layer of uncertainty to an already volatile region.
