Yemen presidential council chairman Alimi announces military operation against Houthis
In short
Rashad Muhammad al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, announced on 4 October the launch of a military operation to retake territory held by the Houthis and extend state authority across the country. Alimi said the decision was taken after all opportunities for de-escalation were exhausted. One report, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter, said Saudi Arabia would lead the air campaign, Yemeni government forces the ground fighting and the United States would provide intelligence support, but no other document described the operation’s conduct.
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Rashad Muhammad al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council and supreme commander of the armed forces, announced on 4 October the launch of a military operation against the Houthis, according to Chinese outlets citing Reuters and CCTV News. Reports described it as a “major military operation” intended to take territory under Houthi control. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
In a televised speech, Alimi said: “Today, I announce the start of a military operation to recover territory and to extend the authority of the state and its institutions over the entire homeland.” He said the decision to counter-attack was taken after “all opportunities for de-escalation were exhausted,” and accused the Houthis of responding to de-escalation efforts with further escalation. [ 5 ]
The stated aim, as reported by Jiemian citing CCTV News and by CLS, is to recover Yemen’s remaining areas and restore the jurisdiction of state and government institutions nationwide. [ 4 , 5 ]
Citing unnamed people familiar with the matter, CLS reported that Saudi Arabia would lead the air war while Yemeni government forces handle ground combat, that the United States would provide intelligence support for Saudi operations in Yemen, and that some regional and European countries would mainly supply defensive military assistance to Saudi Arabia. No other document in the set described how the operation would be conducted or what foreign support it would receive. [ 5 ]
The documents differ on whether the operation has already started. CLS’s first report said Alimi stated that a military operation had begun to retake the remaining territory from the Houthis, while later reports, including a second CLS report, described him as announcing its launch. None of the documents specified the operation’s scale, location or start time, and none reported fighting. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Why it matters
The announcement points to a new phase of open military confrontation in Yemen, and one report says it would involve Saudi-led air operations and US intelligence support. Because the documents give no scale, start time or location for the operation, its immediate effect on the ground cannot be assessed from this coverage.
Key facts
- Rashad Muhammad al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council and the armed forces’ supreme commander, announced a military operation on 4 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Alimi said the operation aims to retake remaining territory from the Houthis and extend the authority of the state and its institutions over the whole country. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
- Alimi said the decision followed the exhaustion of all de-escalation opportunities and accused the Houthis of responding to de-escalation efforts with further escalation. [ 5 ]
- Citing people familiar with the matter, CLS reported that Saudi Arabia would lead the air war and Yemeni government forces would conduct ground combat. [ 5 ]
- The same report said the United States would provide intelligence support for Saudi operations in Yemen, and that some regional and European countries would mainly provide defensive military assistance to Saudi Arabia. [ 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Rashad Muhammad al-Alimi is chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council and supreme commander of the armed forces. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Alimi announced on 4 October the launch of a military operation against the Houthis to take territory under their control. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Alimi said the operation is intended to recover Yemen’s remaining areas and restore the jurisdiction of state and government institutions nationwide. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the military operation has already begun or has only been announced CLS’s first report said the operation had begun, while later reports, including a later CLS report, described Alimi as announcing its launch.
- Who will conduct the operation and what foreign support it will receive The account of a Saudi-led air campaign, Yemeni government ground forces and US intelligence support comes from a single report citing unnamed people familiar with the matter.
- The operation’s scale, location and start time, and the timing of Alimi’s televised speech None of the documents states these details.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- CLS reports that Presidential Leadership Council chairman Alimi said a military operation had begun to retake the remaining territory from the Houthis. [ 1 ]
- Yicai reports the chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council announced the launch of a military operation. [ 2 ]
- China News Service, citing Reuters, reports that Alimi announced the launch of a large-scale military operation on 4 October local time. [ 3 ]
- Jiemian reports Alimi announced a military operation to recover Yemen’s remaining areas and restore the jurisdiction of state and government institutions nationwide, citing CCTV News. [ 4 ]
- CLS reports Alimi’s televised speech and adds that, according to people familiar with the matter, Saudi Arabia would lead the air war, Yemeni government forces would fight on the ground, the United States would provide intelligence support and some regional and European countries would supply defensive military assistance. [ 5 ]