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Yemen's government announces major offensive against Houthis; Saudi coalition pledges full support
Presidential Council chairman Rashad al-Alimi said on Oct 4 that Yemen's armed forces will advance "until the country is liberated from the terrorist militia"; the Houthis claimed strikes on Saudi Aramco sites, unconfirmed by Riyadh.
Why it matters
This marks a formal turning point in the Yemen war: two days after Reuters revealed Saudi plans for an offensive, Yemen's government has now publicly announced operations are underway, with the Saudi-led coalition pledging full support. The battle for the Bab el-Mandeb strait directly affects Red Sea shipping and oil markets.
Full report
ADEN, Oct 4 (Reuters) — Rashad al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen's Presidential Council, announced in a televised address on Sunday that Yemen's armed forces would launch an offensive "until the entire country is liberated from the terrorist militia." The Saudi-led coalition announced full support for the operation the same day (CNN).
The Houthis claimed the same day that they had struck Saudi Aramco facilities in Riyadh and Khurais with ballistic missiles and drones, in retaliation for what they said were about 50 Saudi airstrikes in the previous 12 hours. Saudi Arabia has not confirmed the claim.
Yemeni government forces also claimed 257 precision strikes on Saturday that killed about 700 Houthi fighters; casualty figures could not be independently verified.
Background: the Houthis seized the Bab el-Mandeb strait and about 150 km of Red Sea coastline in a lightning offensive last month. The World Food Programme said last week that three-quarters of families in parts of Yemen are going hungry; the renewed fighting has already displaced tens of thousands.
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