Full Breakdown
Saudi-backed Yemeni Government Launches Counteroffensive Amid Houthi Advances
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Core Operation Announcement
He called on the armed forces, security forces and all military formations to carry out their assigned missions until the country is liberated from Houthi control.
Recent Houthi Gains
In the weeks preceding the announcement, Iran-backed Houthi fighters seized the Bab el-Mandeb strait and cut the main supply route to the government-held city of Taiz. Security sources said the Houthis took the al-Safiya area, captured a police station and halted traffic on the Taiz-Aden road, effectively encircling the city. The loss of the corridor would isolate Taiz, Yemen’s third-largest city, and worsen the humanitarian situation.
Saudi Planning and Support
Saudi Arabia is preparing an offensive, ranging from a narrow coastal push around Bab el-Mandeb to a broader multi-front assault covering Al-Bayda, Marib, Taiz and Al-Jawf. Yemeni ground forces will lead, backed by Saudi air strikes; the United States is providing intelligence and targeting information. Turkey and Pakistan have supplied equipment, and Pakistan has dispatched cargo planes with air-defence systems, light artillery, drones and anti-drone gear to Aden. Pakistani troops—estimated between 30,000 and 40,000—are stationed in Saudi Arabia for border defence and missile interception, but have not been sent into Yemen for combat.
Humanitarian Context
The World Food Programme reported that three-in-four families in parts of Yemen are facing hunger, with tens of thousands displaced and essential supplies disrupted for millions. The siege of Taiz threatens to worsen civilian suffering, as the city remains under government control but is surrounded on multiple sides by Houthi forces.
Official Statements & Responses
- Saudi officials said they cannot enter new Yemeni peace negotiations while the Houthis retain control of Bab el-Mandeb.
- A U.S. military spokesperson confirmed that American advisers are embedded with Saudi and Yemeni planners, providing intelligence support but not direct combat involvement.
- A Pakistani government official emphasized that troops in Saudi Arabia are deployed for border defence and missile interception, not for offensive operations inside Yemen.
- Turkish defense officials confirmed that Turkish-origin drones, purchased before the current escalation, are being operated over Yemeni battlefields.
On-the-Ground Reports
Local police sources in Taiz described Houthi forces taking the al-Safiya district and a police station, while Yemeni military contacts confirmed fighting continues along the Taiz-Aden highway, with Houthi units blocking traffic.
Data & Statistics
- Saudi planners estimate that more than 100,000 Yemeni troops could be mobilized for the offensive, depending on its scale.
- Pakistani deployments in Saudi Arabia total between 30,000 and 40,000 personnel.
- Bab el-Mandeb serves as a critical maritime chokepoint for global trade between the Mediterranean and Asia.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Timing of the Saudi-backed offensive varies: some officials anticipate a launch within a week, others suggest a delay until after the U.S. midterm elections in early November.
- The extent of U.S. involvement is described differently across sources; one account notes only advisory and intelligence assistance, whereas earlier reporting referenced a rebuff of direct Saudi requests for air-strike support.
Verbatim Quotes
- “They've achieved the military objective of isolating Taiz from Aden, even if they haven't fully taken control of it,” — Farea Al-Muslimi
What’s Next
Saudi-backed Yemeni forces are slated to begin operations in the coming weeks, aiming to retake coastal areas and restore normal maritime traffic through Bab el-Mandeb. No specific launch date has been confirmed.