Yemen presidency announces military drive to retake all territory seized by Houthis

Yemen's president announced the beginning of a military operation on Sunday to reclaim all territory seized by the Houthi rebels, despite the group's recent territorial gains. The announcement highlights the challenging situation for Yemen's government, which has recently lost significant portions of its Red Sea coastline and areas surrounding the Bab al-Mandab strait, a vital chokepoint for international shipping.

The embattled government has been struggling to counter the Houthi surge, even with Saudi Arabia's military support.

President Rashad al-Alimi made the announcement after the Houthis attacked oil infrastructure in the capital yet again on Sunday, cutting a critical supply route linking the besieged city of Taiz with Yemen's interim capital Aden. The Houthi advance followed days of intense fighting in and around Taiz, where dozens of combatants were reported killed on Friday. The battle for Taiz is ongoing, with both sides claiming casualties ranging from 34 government troops to 39 Houthi fighters.

The situation in Taiz, Yemen's third-largest city, is crucial as it remains under government control but is besieged from multiple fronts by Houthi fighters. Residents of Taiz have vowed to resist any Houthi advance, vowing not to abandon their city. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has intensified its attacks, with the Houthis in turn claiming to have retaliated against Saudi oil targets in Riyadh and Khurais.

The ongoing conflict has exacerbated Yemen's already dire humanitarian crisis, with the renewed fighting further straining resources and exacerbating the already severe shortage of food and other necessities.