Yemen presidency announces military drive to retake all Houthi territory

Yemen's government, supported by Saudi Arabia, has declared a military campaign to reclaim territory from the Iran-backed Houthis. This comes after a series of exchanges between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition. On Sunday, the Houthis claimed they struck facilities belonging to Saudi Aramco, retaliating for what they described as 50 Saudi-led coalition strikes in Yemen within a 12-hour period.

Saudi Arabia has not yet commented on the matter. The conflict escalated in September when the Houthis seized Yemen's Red Sea coast, including the crucial Bab al-Mandab Strait, disrupting global oil supplies. The Yemeni capital, Sanaa, which has been under Houthi control for over a decade, has been subjected to sustained attacks by government forces attempting to weaken the group's military capabilities.

The Houthis' attacks have also spread across Yemen, including to the Saada region, the northern stronghold of the group. On Sunday, Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi announced the commencement of military operations to reclaim the remaining republic territory and extend state institutions' authority across the entire national territory.

However, it remains unclear whether this marks a new phase in the conflict. The frontline in Yemen continues to focus on the key city of Taiz, which is still held by the internationally recognized government. The Houthis are engaged in intense battles for control of the region, seeking to secure coastal areas and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

On Sunday, the Houthis severed a vital supply route linking Taiz with Aden, the interim capital, according to AFP. The Houthis now control the area and the supply route, effectively encircling Taiz, though they have not fully taken it. Farea Al-Muslimi, a researcher at the Chatham House think tank, commented on the Houthis' military success.

Meanwhile, the Houthis are also targeting Saudi Arabia economically, launching a ballistic missile and drone attack on Aramco facilities in Riyadh and the Khurais oil area in the east. Both strikes reportedly caused significant fires at the targeted sites. Although Saudi Arabia has not commented on the attack, it has previously dismissed claims as misleading.

The possibility of a new all-out war against the Houthis looms, which could have severe consequences for Saudi Arabia and the global economy. In retaliation, Saudi Arabia has also struck Houthi targets in Yemen, causing at least two casualties. On Saturday, Yemen's government reported its forces had attacked Houthi positions in Sanaa, Saada, and near Taiz.

Yemen, already one of the world's poorest nations, is grappling with a massive humanitarian crisis. The country has been embroiled in a conflict since 2014, when the Houthis overthrew the Saudi-backed government and took control of the north. Saudi Arabia intervened the following year, leading an international coalition. After a period of relative calm, tensions resurfaced in July amid the broader Middle East conflict.

The Houthis have imposed a blockade on Saudi energy exports, which have already been hampered by Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz.