Saudi-led coalition says joined Yemen govt offensive against Houthis

RIYADH: The Saudi-led military coalition has announced its involvement in the Yemen government's new offensive against the Iran-backed Houthis, with 100 warplanes participating in early morning strikes to provide aerial support for ground forces, coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Maliki reported on X. The operation, named Operation Dawn of Yemen, involves 100 fighter jets taking part in strikes at dawn today, according to the coalition spokesman.

The coalition's announcement came after the Yemeni military declared it had launched a series of attacks against Houthi targets on Monday, following the internationally recognized government's announcement of a new campaign to reclaim all territory. The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, have recently made significant advances, seizing large areas of the country's Red Sea coast and territory near the Bab al-Mandab Strait – a crucial chokepoint for global shipping.

The Houthis, at war with the government, launched a rapid offensive in September that has resulted in hundreds of casualties on both sides and has forced over 145,000 individuals to flee their homes, according to UN data. Yemen is among the world's poorest nations and is enduring a severe humanitarian crisis since the civil war began in 2014.