Yemeni Government Launches Military Operations to Retake Houthi-Held Territory

Yemen's internationally recognized government has launched what it describes as comprehensive military operations aimed at recapturing territory held by the Houthi movement, according to Anadolu Agency.

The chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council ordered the country's armed forces to carry out the operations, instructing them to continue "until the country is liberated" from Houthi control.

Scope of the operations

The order signals an escalation in the government's approach to the long-running conflict with the Houthi movement, which controls significant parts of Yemen including the capital, Sanaa. Details on the specific fronts or regions targeted by the newly announced operations have not been fully disclosed.

The directive from the Presidential Leadership Council chairman frames the campaign in broad terms, calling for the armed forces to pursue the goal of liberating Houthi-held areas rather than limiting the operation to a specific locality.

Background

Yemen has been embroiled in a protracted conflict for years, with the Houthi movement controlling large portions of the country's north and the government, backed by a coalition, holding other areas. The latest order reflects continued efforts by the government side to shift the balance of control.