Yemen's internationally recognised government has formally declared a new military offensive aimed at reclaiming territory seized by Houthi forces, even as the Iran-backed group tightens its grip on the ground — cutting a critical supply route and effectively encircling the besieged city of Taiz.
Government Vows to Retake Yemen's Houthi-Held Territory
Rashad al-Alimi, the head of Yemen's presidential council, issued a sweeping declaration announcing the start of combat operations across the country. "I announce today the start of military operations to retake the remaining territories of the republic and extend the authority of the state and its institutions across the entire national territory," al-Alimi said in a formal statement.
He called on all armed forces to begin carrying out their assigned missions in accordance with approved plans, stating the goal was to liberate the country from what he described as the grip of the "Houthi terrorist militia."
The announcement came at a particularly difficult moment for the government, which has recently lost significant ground along Yemen's Red Sea coastline and in areas surrounding the Bab al-Mandab Strait — a strategically vital chokepoint for international shipping — following a rapid Houthi advance. Despite military backing from Saudi Arabia, the government has struggled to reverse these losses.
Taiz Cut Off as Houthis Seize Key Supply Route
The offensive declaration followed by just hours a significant Houthi battlefield gain: the seizure of the al-Safiya area, through which runs the main road connecting Taiz — a major government-held city — with the government's interim capital, Aden.
Four security sources confirmed the Houthis had taken control of the route, with a police source in the area reporting that fighters had captured the al-Safiya police station and cut the road entirely. Three military sources corroborated the account, noting that traffic on the route had been halted and that Taiz city was now surrounded by Houthi forces, with fighting continuing in the area.
Taiz city itself remains under government control but has long been besieged from the north, east and west. It is considered one of the most significant and enduring frontlines in Yemen's ongoing conflict.
Heavy Casualties on Both Sides
The intensity of recent fighting has been severe. Sources from both sides indicated that more than 70 people were killed in and around Taiz province in a single day. Government sources reported 34 government troops killed — including 20 in the neighbouring province of Lahj — while Houthi military sources said 39 of their own fighters died during clashes in Taiz and along the Lahj border areas.
Meanwhile, the Houthis claimed to have struck oil infrastructure in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Sunday, in what they described as another attack in their ongoing campaign against the coalition backing Yemen's government.
Scepticism Over Offensive's Prospects
Analysts have questioned whether the newly announced government offensive can shift the momentum meaningfully. Farea Al-Muslimi, a research fellow at the Chatham House think-tank, said the Houthis had already achieved a key strategic objective. "They've achieved the military objective of isolating Taiz from Aden, even if they haven't fully taken control of it," he said, adding bluntly of the government's announced operation: "In my opinion, it's meaningless."
Despite the pessimism from analysts, residents of Taiz have vowed to resist any Houthi incursion into the city itself. "We will defeat and crush anyone who enters the city of Taiz. We will not abandon Taiz," said local resident Zakaria Al-Dhubhani. "This is a message to the Houthis: I swear to God, we will not allow you to advance a single inch into the city."
Yemen's civil war, which had settled into a period of relative calm over several years, reignited in July against the backdrop of the broader regional conflict engulfing the Middle East. Saudi Arabia has led an anti-Houthi military coalition since 2015, but the renewed fighting has underscored how fragile any stability in the country remains.
