Yemen Forces Launch Counteroffensive to Retake Capital Sanaa

Yemeni forces are launching a new counteroffensive against Houthi rebels. They vow to retake Sanaa. This bid arrives as fighting intensifies between government troops and the group in al-Bayda and al-Jawf provinces. Forces loyal to Yemen's internationally recognized government have attacked Houthi positions. Officials say their goal is to reclaim the capital more than a decade after the Iran-backed group seized it.

Major-General Samir Al-Sabri, Yemen's deputy defence minister, made remarks on Monday. He broadcast these words on state television. "The decision has been made to retake Sanaa," he stated clearly. The announcement coincides with heavy clashes in al-Bayda and al-Jawf. These areas serve as the main gateway to the capital city. Houthis reported seven deaths during a strike on a prison in al-Hazm within al-Jawf province.

Majid al-Nuzaili acts as a spokesman for Yemen's government-aligned forces. He spoke on Monday about the campaign objectives. The goal is to "liberate Yemen from the grip" of the Houthis, he said. They also want to restore Sanaa as a capital for all Yemenis. Al-Nuzaili warned civilians to avoid major roads leading into the city. This alert covers routes connecting the capital with Marib and al-Jawf. These paths go through Nihm, Sirwah, Mahliyah, and al-Hazm.

These renewed hostilities mark one of the most serious escalations since a UN-brokered truce in 2022. That deal halted large-scale fighting in a war that began after Houthis took Sanaa in 2014. The capture of the capital prompted Saudi-led military intervention the following year. Diplomats hoped the truce would evolve into a durable political settlement. Those efforts have faltered amid regional tensions. Tensions rose from the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran.

Fighting resumed in July when government forces struck the Houthi-controlled airport in Sanaa. They blocked an aircraft landing from Iran. Last week, Houthis launched a major offensive trying to advance through western Taiz and southern Hodeidah. Their targets included the port city of al-Makha and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea. Earlier, Houthis declared a blockade against Saudi vessels transiting that waterway. The strait remains a vital corridor for shipping between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. It holds new significance for Saudi oil exports since Iran began restricting passage through the Strait of Hormuz at the outset of the US and Israel's war on the country.

Ahmed al-Shalafi from Al Jazeera covers Yemen affairs as an editor. He said government forces appear to have absorbed the initial shock of the rebel offensive. They expanded fighting across several fronts partly to stretch Houthi forces and increase pressure on them. Clashes were mainly concentrated west of Taiz and south of Hodeidah on Thursday but have now spread widely. Fighting has moved into al-Dhalea, Marib, al-Jawf, and al-Bayda provinces. Al-Shalafi noted that al-Jawf is particularly important because it borders Saudi Arabia and connects towards Saada. That city remains the Houthis' main stronghold. Al-Bayda holds strategic significance because it lies at the centre of Yemen. It connects eight governorates – four in the north and four in the south.

The fighting has resulted in hundreds of casualties overall. The World Health Organization issued a statement on Monday regarding the toll. Nearly 900 people have been killed or wounded since Thursday, they reported. The majority of these victims are located in Taiz and along the western coast. Civilians face difficult choices as roads become dangerous zones again.

Over 21,000 individuals have been forced from their homes in Taiz alone, leaving roughly 3,000 families with nowhere to go. Health officials warn that this casualty count will only climb higher as fighting intensifies across the region. Rashad al-Alimi, leading Yemen's Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council, declared sweeping victories against the Houthis on Monday. He credited government troops for moving forward in al-Jawf, al-Bayda, Taiz, and Hodeidah.

"Our armed forces will continue to carry out their constitutional duty until state institutions are restored and their authority extends over the entire territory of Yemen," al-Alimi stated firmly. He blamed the Houthis for choosing escalation instead of peace, warning that this group would bear full responsibility for every consequence resulting from its actions. Government-aligned media centers later reported several air strikes against Houthi positions west of Taiz on Tuesday. Earlier claims included attacks on Yatma in al-Jawf where forces were engaged in intensive battles with the insurgents.

The same media outlet said government troops had pushed to the outskirts of Dhi Na'im district in al-Bayda province. In stark contrast, the Houthis insisted they repelled a massive Saudi-backed advance toward the al-Labanat mountains in al-Jawf. Mohammed al-Farah, a member of the Houthi political bureau, posted on X that dozens of government-aligned fighters were killed or wounded during these clashes. He further claimed Houthi forces targeted reinforcements with ballistic missiles and struck vehicles alongside armored cars. Al Jazeera could not independently verify these conflicting claims made by either side.