Key facts
- Yemen's presidential council announced a new military operation to retake Houthi-held territories.
- The Houthis reportedly encircled the government-held city of Taiz by cutting a vital supply route.
- Fighting in and around Taiz province killed more than 70 people in the past day.
- The Houthis claimed to have launched ballistic missiles and drones at Saudi Aramco sites in Riyadh and Khurais.
Yemen’s Saudi-backed government announced on Sunday the commencement of a new military operation aimed at reclaiming all territories currently held by the Houthi rebels. The announcement by Rashad al-Alimi, the head of Yemen’s presidential council, sets an ambitious objective for the government, which has recently seen its forces pushed back along the Red Sea coastline and near the Bab al-Mandab strait.
The operation begins as the Iran-backed Houthis have reportedly made significant advances, encircling the government-held city of Taiz. Four security sources indicated that the Houthis cut a vital supply route connecting Taiz to the interim capital, Aden, just hours before the government's announcement. This move followed days of intense fighting in and around Taiz.
A police source in the area confirmed that the Houthis had taken control of the al-Safiya area, blocking the main road and securing the local police station. Three Yemeni military sources corroborated this, confirming Houthi control over the area and the supply route, effectively surrounding Taiz city. Fighting in the region was reported to be ongoing.
Sources on both sides of the conflict told AFP that over 70 people were killed in fighting in and around Taiz province in the preceding 24 hours. Government sources reported 34 troops killed, with 20 of those in Lahj province, while Houthi military sources stated 39 of their fighters died in clashes in Taiz and border areas with Lahj. Taiz city remains under government control but has been under siege by Houthi forces for an extended period.
In parallel, a Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, claimed on Sunday that the group had launched ballistic missiles and drones targeting Saudi Aramco facilities in Riyadh and Khurais, resulting in significant fires. Saree stated these attacks were a response to approximately 50 Saudi-led air and missile strikes in Yemen over the previous 12 hours. Saudi Arabia has not immediately confirmed these claims. The Houthi's Al-Masirah TV channel also reported Saudi strikes in the northern governorates of al-Jawf and Saada, with at least two individuals injured.