Saudi-backed Yemeni forces launch offensive to retake Bab al-Mandeb from Houthis
Version 2: New in this version: Yemeni government forces claimed to have retaken positions near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and a road to Mocha, the Houthi-run Saba agency denied the gains as “fictitious,” a Saudi coalition spokesperson said 100 warplanes are taking part in an operation named Yemen's Dawn, and new official warnings were issued to civilians and airlines.
In short
Yemen's internationally recognized government, backed by Saudi Arabia, launched a military operation to retake Houthi-held territory, with the stated aim of controlling the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea coast. A Yemeni military spokesperson claimed government forces had retaken positions near the strait and regained a road linking Dhubab district and Mocha, a claim CNN said it could not verify and that Houthi-run media denied as “fictitious.” A Saudi coalition spokesperson said 100 warplanes were taking part in an operation called Yemen's Dawn, while the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia warned citizens of possible drone and missile attacks.
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Yemen's internationally recognized government, backed by Saudi Arabia, launched a military operation to retake territory held by the Houthis, who are supported by Iran, according to Bloomberg, Axios and other outlets. Axios reported that the head of Yemen's presidential council announced the counteroffensive in a speech and that it had been planned for many weeks by the government and Saudi Arabia. Bloomberg reported that the operation followed weeks of escalation between the Iran-backed group and Saudi Arabia. [ 1 , 3 ]
The stated objective is control of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea coast, described by Axios as a vital artery for global trade and Saudi oil exports. CNN reported that Yemeni government forces claimed Monday to have retaken key positions near the strait, with military spokesperson Majid al-Nuzaili saying on X that government forces “have succeeded in controlling Bab al-Mandeb.” Nuzaili said forces had regained a key road linking Dhubab district and the port town of Mocha and had “begun implementing a strategic offensive operation” against Houthi-controlled Sanaa. CNN said it had not independently verified the claim, and The Boston Globe reported that as of Monday evening it was unclear how far government forces had advanced. The documents differ on the timing: Axios said the counteroffensive was launched Sunday, while CNN and The Boston Globe described government claims and an attack on Monday. [ 2 , 3 , 8 ]
Houthi-run media rejected the accounts. The Saba News Agency denied that Yemeni troops and Saudi-led coalition forces were advancing, quoting an unidentified military source who called the reported gains “fictitious” and an “attempt to cover up repeated failures and defeats.” The Boston Globe reported that Hizam al-Assad, a Houthi political official, dismissed the claims on social media as “illusory.” [ 2 , 8 ]
A spokesperson for the Saudi military coalition in Yemen, General Turki al-Maliki, said 100 warplanes from the coalition were taking part in a new operation called Yemen's Dawn, including airstrikes to support Yemeni government troops fighting in the Bab al-Mandeb area, according to The Boston Globe. The Globe said it was unclear whether any countries other than Saudi Arabia were participating in the air campaign, and that videos verified by The New York Times showed what appeared to be Yemeni government forces near the strait, including footage filmed on the outskirts of Dhubab Airport. The Wall Street Journal reported the operation aims to take back the Red Sea port of Mokha, which it said the Iran-backed rebels have used to disrupt oil-tanker traffic. [ 7 , 8 ]
The escalation drew official warnings. CNN reported that the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia warned American citizens Monday of potential drone and missile attacks on the country, and that Riyadh condemned what it described as escalating Houthi attacks targeting civilians, economic facilities and maritime traffic. Later Monday, the Houthi-run Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center warned airlines against flying in Saudi airspace, saying it was “unsafe” as long as Saudi Arabia's “aggression” continues, according to Saba. CNN also reported that Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan agreed Monday to move forward with the implementation of collective defense measures, in a passage that was truncated. [ 2 ]
The offensive is set against a wider regional conflict. The Boston Globe reported it plunged the Middle East deeper into conflict as the US-Israeli war with Iran enters its eighth month, and that the Yemeni government depends heavily on financial and military support from Saudi Arabia; it said the operation was announced a day after the Yemeni government declared a full-blown war against the Houthis to retake territory lost over the past 12 years. Axios reported that President Trump is caught between wanting to help Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, described as his friend and ally, and avoiding entanglement in a new front, and that Trump's top cabinet members met for hours at Camp David on Friday to discuss next steps in the Iran war and the conflict in Yemen. The New York Times also reported that Houthi-affiliated media blamed Saudi Arabia for a strike on a factory in Sanaa on Sunday; the documents do not independently confirm who carried out the strike. [ 3 , 5 , 8 ]
Why it matters
The operation targets the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which the documents describe as a vital artery for global trade and for Saudi oil exports, so any disruption there or at the Red Sea port of Mokha would be felt beyond Yemen. It widens an escalation between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthis while, according to Axios, Washington is weighing whether to get involved. The documents give no verified casualty figures or confirmed territorial gains, so the operation's practical effect is not established.
Key facts
- Yemen's internationally recognized government, backed by Saudi Arabia, launched a military operation to retake territory held by the Houthis, who are supported by Iran. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- A stated objective is to take control of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea coast, described in the documents as a key route for global trade and Saudi oil exports. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- A spokesperson for the Saudi military coalition in Yemen, General Turki al-Maliki, said 100 warplanes were taking part in a new operation called Yemen's Dawn, including airstrikes supporting Yemeni government troops, according to The Boston Globe. [ 8 ]
- Yemeni military spokesperson Majid al-Nuzaili said on X that government forces had retaken Bab al-Mandeb and a road linking Dhubab district and Mocha; CNN said it had not independently verified the claim. [ 2 ]
- The Houthi-run Saba News Agency denied the advances, quoting an unidentified military source who called the reported gains “fictitious” and an attempt to cover up defeats. [ 2 ]
- The Wall Street Journal reported the operation aims to take back the strategic Red Sea port of Mokha, which it said the Iran-backed rebels have used to disrupt oil-tanker traffic. [ 7 ]
- The US Embassy in Saudi Arabia warned American citizens of potential drone and missile attacks, and Riyadh condemned what it described as escalating Houthi attacks on civilians, economic facilities and maritime traffic. [ 2 ]
- Axios reported that President Trump is weighing whether to help Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman without becoming entangled in a new Middle East front, and that his top cabinet members met for hours at Camp David on Friday on the Iran war and the Yemen conflict. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Yemen's internationally recognized government launched a military operation to retake territory held by the Houthis, with backing from Saudi Arabia, and the Houthis are supported by Iran. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- The operation's stated objective is to take control of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea coast. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
Still unclear
- How far Yemeni government forces have advanced and what territorial gains, casualties or displacement the operation has produced. The Boston Globe reported it was unclear as of Monday evening how far forces had advanced; CNN said it could not verify the government's claims; the Houthi-run Saba News Agency denied them.
- Which day the operation began. Axios said the counteroffensive was launched Sunday and that the head of Yemen's presidential council announced it in a speech, while CNN described government claims on Monday and The Boston Globe described an attack on Monday; the documents do not reconcile the days.
- Whether the United States will take part in the operation. Axios reports only that President Trump is weighing helping Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman against avoiding a new regional front; no decision is stated.
- Whether countries other than Saudi Arabia are participating in the air campaign. The Boston Globe says it was unclear whether any other countries were taking part.
- Who was responsible for a strike in Sanaa on Sunday. The New York Times says Houthi-affiliated media blamed Saudi Arabia and does not confirm it independently.
- A spokesperson for the Saudi military coalition in Yemen said 100 coalition warplanes are taking part in an operation called Yemen's Dawn, including airstrikes in support of Yemeni government troops, according to The Boston Globe. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Bloomberg reports that Yemen's internationally recognized government has launched a full-scale military bid to recapture all areas under Houthi control, after weeks of escalation between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia. [ 1 ]
- CNN reports Yemeni government forces claimed to have retaken key positions near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, that the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia warned of possible drone and missile attacks, and that Houthi-run Saba denied the advances as “fictitious.” [ 2 ]
- Axios reports that the head of Yemen's presidential council announced the Saudi-backed counteroffensive in a speech on Sunday and that it had been planned for many weeks. [ 3 ]
- Bloomberg television reports rising Gulf tensions as the government offensive gets under way, noting Saudi backing for Yemen's government and Iranian support for the Houthis. [ 4 ]
- The New York Times reports that Saudi and Yemeni forces are attacking the Houthis to retake control of the Red Sea coast. [ 5 ]
- The Wall Street Journal reports the operation aims to take back the Red Sea port of Mokha. [ 7 ]
- The Boston Globe reports the Monday attack along the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and a Saudi coalition spokesperson's statement that 100 warplanes are taking part in an operation called Yemen's Dawn. [ 8 ]