A spokesperson for Saudi-backed Yemeni forces said they have begun a strategic offensive to retake the Houthi-held capital Sana'a, Kan News reported Monday. Houthi political council member Mohammed al-Bukhaiti denied any progress, calling the reports 'illusions.'
On Monday, a spokesperson for Saudi-backed Yemeni forces announced the start of a 'strategic offensive' aimed at reclaiming the capital Sana'a from Houthi control, Kan News reported. The offensive is part of Operation 'Yemen Dawn,' which President Rashad al-Alimi named earlier Monday, stating its goal is to destroy the Houthi movement and recapture Sana'a. The claim represents the most direct statement of military intent to capture the city since the current escalation.
Houthi political council member Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, in an interview with Qatar's Al-Arabi channel, denied any progress by Saudi-backed forces in key areas including Ta'izz, the western coast, or the Bab el-Mandeb strait. He dismissed the reports as 'illusions,' reflecting the deep divide in the two sides' narratives.
The Monday announcement follows Sunday's declaration by al-Alimi of a full-scale military operation on all fronts. On Sunday, the Yemeni government announced a major offensive involving 100,000 troops, focusing on the Red Sea coast and Bab el-Mandeb Strait, with Saudi backing. As The Zioneer reported on October 2, Saudi Arabia had approved plans for a major operation and requested US airstrike support. Earlier, Saudi forces were reported concentrating in central Yemen for a potential ground offensive to break the Houthi oil blockade (July 31). The Houthis launched an offensive in August, and Saudi airstrikes were reported in September.
Neither the specific units involved nor the scope of the purported offensive have been independently confirmed. The Houthi denial suggests that if an operation is underway, it has not yet achieved significant territorial gains. Independent verification from additional sources is pending.
8 developments
- StrongYemeni government forces strike Houthi stronghold in Sanaa, spokesperson says
- StrongHouthis report Saudi strikes in Yemen, government forces advancing near Sana'a
- DevelopingHouthi spokesperson says movement continues to defend sovereignty, break siege
- DevelopingHouthis reportedly capture Aden governorate in southern Yemen
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