Yemen's pro-government army announces offensive to retake Sanaa
In short
A spokesman for Yemen's pro-government armed forces said the army has begun a “strategic offensive operation” to retake control of the capital, Sanaa. The announcement was made by General Majid al-Nazili on the social network X, according to Russian reports. Sanaa is held by the Shia Ansar Allah movement, known as the Houthis, which the forces loyal to Yemen's internationally recognised government are seeking to push out.
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Yemen's pro-government armed forces announced the start of a military operation to retake the capital, Sanaa. Majid al-Nazili, described as a representative of the pro-government army, wrote on the social network X: “Our armed forces have begun conducting a strategic offensive operation to return control over Sanaa.” RIA Novosti reported the statement at 13:33 local time. [ 1 , 2 ]
RBC reported the same announcement about an hour later, adding that the forces taking part support Yemen's internationally recognised government, and that Sanaa is controlled by the Shia movement Ansar Allah, known as the Houthis. RBC also identified al-Nazili as a general. Neither report gave any details of the operation's scale, timing or the forces involved, and neither cited independent confirmation that the operation had begun. [ 1 , 2 ]
Why it matters
Sanaa is the seat of power in Yemen, and an operation aimed at retaking it would mark a significant escalation in the country's long-running conflict. The documents give no details on the scale, timing or forces involved, so the immediate consequences of the announced operation could not be assessed from the reporting available.
Key facts
- A spokesman for Yemen's pro-government armed forces announced the start of a strategic offensive operation to return control over Sanaa. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The announcement was made by Majid al-Nazili, described as a representative of the pro-government army, in a post on X. [ 1 , 2 ]
- RBC reported that the forces carrying out the operation support Yemen's internationally recognised government. [ 2 ]
- Sanaa is controlled by the Shia movement Ansar Allah, known as the Houthis, according to RBC. [ 2 ]
- No details of the operation's scale, timing or the forces involved were given in either report. [ 1 , 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether the announced operation has actually begun on the ground, and what it has achieved so far. Both documents report only the announcement; neither cites independent confirmation or any account of fighting.
- The scale, timing and composition of the forces taking part. Neither document provides any of these details.
- The description of Sanaa as controlled by Ansar Allah (the Houthis) and of the attacking forces as backing Yemen's internationally recognised government. This context appears in only one document, RBC.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- RIA Novosti publishes an announcement by Majid al-Nazili, a representative of Yemen's pro-government army, that a strategic offensive operation to retake Sanaa has begun. [ 1 ]
- RBC reports the same announcement, adding that the forces back Yemen's internationally recognised government and that Sanaa is controlled by the Houthis. [ 2 ]