Yemen's push to retake Houthi territory faces major challenges, analyst says

Yemen's internationally recognised government has announced a major military operation to retake all territory controlled by the Ansar Allah Houthis. President Rashad Muhammad al-Alimi said in a televised address that the operation aims to restore security and extend state authority across the country. He said it is not a war against the people of Sanaa, any sect or any tribe, but a state battle to restore its institutions. The conflict has escalated since July between Saudi-backed government forces and Iran-backed Houthis, who have seized territory along the Red Sea coast. Heavy fighting has centred around the Taiz region, with both sides trading air strikes and artillery fire. The Houthis said they attacked an Aramco oil facility in Riyadh with ballistic missiles and drones, though the Saudi-led coalition called the announcement misleading. Hisham Al-Omeisy, a senior Yemen adviser at the European Institute of Peace, told Al Jazeera the announcement is significant and gives political cover based on the National Defense Council's assessment. He said it would not have come without a Saudi green light, referring to reports of 100,000 troops being mobilised for a ground invasion. He added that the Houthis are not weakened but stronger, having captured weapons and recruited fighters, and that capturing Sanaa would be an ambitious goal. Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on X: https://X.com/AJEnglish Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/ Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/ Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.news/AJEMobile #Yemen #YemenGovernmentForces #YemenWar #Houthis #BattleForSanaa #RashadAlAlimi #HouthiForces #Taiz #Sanaa #RedSea #RedSeaTensions #SaudiArabia #YemenConflict #BabAlMandeb