Yemen's Presidential Council announces military offensive to retake Houthi territory
Chairman Rashad al-Alimi declared a nationwide campaign to restore state authority across Yemen, even as Houthi forces severed the primary supply road linking the besieged city of Taiz to Aden during heavy clashes that left over 70 dead in 24 hours
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Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces ride in the back of a military truck at the Jabal Han front west of the city of Taiz following fierce battles earlier in the day as Yemen's Houthis reportedly attempted to seize control of the main route between the inland city of Taiz and the coastal city of Aden, on October 3, 2026.
AFP
Chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Rashad al-Alimi announced a nationwide military drive on Sunday, aimed at liberating all Houthi-controlled territory and restoring state authority across the country.
How did Houthi advances surround the strategic city of Taiz?
The ambitious military announcement follows significant Houthi battlefield gains in southwestern Yemen. Houthi units captured the al-Safiya district, effectively cutting the primary highway connecting the besieged city of Taiz to the government's interim capital in Aden. The advance isolates Taiz—which has remained partially encircled since 2015—and halts civilian transit and logistics traffic along the vital corridor.
Clashes in and around Taiz province and neighboring Lahj governorate killed more than 70 combatants in a 24-hour period. According to military and local sources, 34 government soldiers and 39 Houthi fighters were killed in heavy artillery exchanges and ground battles. Despite Houthi gains, local authorities and residents in Taiz vowed to resist further ground advances into urban areas.
What are the broader regional implications and Saudi energy targets?
The escalation in Yemen reflects the ongoing revival of active civil war fronts following months of fragile truce conditions:
- Attacks on Saudi Infrastructure: Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed that the group launched long-range drone and ballistic missile strikes against Saudi Aramco facilities near Riyadh and the Khurais oil fields in eastern Saudi Arabia, claiming to cause localized fires.
- Coalition Retaliatory Airstrikes: Coalition and Yemeni military forces launched extensive counter-strikes targeting Houthi positions, air defense networks, and command hubs in Sanaa, Saada, al-Jawf, and Taiz.
- Humanitarian & Economic Strain: The World Food Programme (WFP) warned that renewed fighting in Taiz has severely disrupted food distribution networks, leaving up to 74 percent of households in affected areas struggling to meet basic nutritional needs.
According to reporting by The National, international military advisers and regional diplomats are monitoring whether the PLC's planned counter-offensive can alter the balance of power along the Red Sea coast.
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