Will Yemen's massive new anti-Houthi offensive succeed in bid to reclaim lost territory? - analysis

Yemen's government launched a new offensive against the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels on Monday, aiming to reclaim lost territory and restore state institutions. The operation, dubbed "Dawn of Yemen," saw government forces advancing near the strategically important Bab al-Mandab Strait and striking Houthi positions across multiple provinces.

This marks a new phase in the ongoing conflict, which has seen the Houthis seize a Red Sea coastal strip near the Bab al-Mandab strait in September, causing concern in Saudi Arabia and Washington.

However, the government's efforts are hampered by fragmented frontlines, with forces spread out in southern Yemen, around Taiz, and in northern Yemen. The Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council's President, Rashad al-Alimi, called the new campaign a "new dawn" and emphasized that the operation targeted the Houthis rather than civilians.

Government forces have intensified operations in Saada, Al-Jawf, and Taiz provinces, claiming to have carried out over 1,000 strikes against Houthi military infrastructure, resulting in the neutralization of approximately 1,700 Houthi personnel and the destruction of 364 vehicles. The Saudi-led Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen pledged continued support, with 100 aircraft participating in the opening phase of the offensive.

The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, have claimed to have seized the home of Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi in Taiz, adding to the chaotic and intense fighting along Yemen's western coast.