{
  "id": 6563736,
  "title": "Yemeni government says campaign to retake Sana'a from Houthis has begun",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/yemeni-government-says-campaign-to-retake-sanaa-from-houthis-has-begun",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-10T08:56:25.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-908218"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On September 8, 2023, Yemeni government forces announced the commencement of a counteroffensive targeting the Houthi-led insurgency, with the aim of reclaiming the capital city of Sana a. The decision was described by Deputy Defense Minister Maj. Gen. Samir al-Sabri as \"finalized and taken decisively.\" The offensive targeted multiple fronts, with the objective of restoring state institutions and ending Houthi control of Sana a.\n\nThe Houthis have controlled Sana a since late 2014. Saudi Arabia, in collaboration with a coalition led by other nations, had launched Operation Decisive Storm in March 2015 and Operation Restoring Hope the following month. However, neither campaign managed to remove the Houthi group from the capital. A UN-brokered truce in 2022 led to a temporary easing of tensions, but Yemen remained divided, with Houthi forces holding northern territories and the internationally recognized government and southern forces maintaining control over other regions.\n\nGovernment officials reported advancements in the governorates of Al-Jawf, Al-Bayda, Taiz, and Al-Hudaydah during the current campaign, though these claims have not been independently verified. Recent fighting has intensified in Al-Jawf and Al-Bayda. Colonel Majid al-Nuzaili, the official spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, stated that the Houthi group had been attempting to impose a project on Yemeni society that transcends politics, aiming to alter the religious, social, and cultural fabric of the country. He emphasized the desire to prevent Yemen from resembling Iran, to avoid importing sectarian and historical conflicts, and to spare Yemenis from enduring disputes that should not concern them.\n\nRecent Saudi-backed Yemeni forces have intensified operations against Houthi positions, coinciding with Houthi missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia. On September 8, Houthi attacks targeted sites in Abha, Jazan, Najran, and Khamis Mushait, resulting in 73 injuries and causing fires and disruptions to energy facilities. The Houthis claimed that these attacks were in retaliation for Saudi military operations in Yemen. In response, the Houthis labeled the operations as \"Saudi aggression\" and threatened further attacks if the campaign persists.\n\nYemeni military analyst Hamed al-Ruba i explained that the battle to liberate Sana a had begun years ago through preparations, unifying armed forces ranks, securing tribal support, and amassing resources. He emphasized the importance of thorough training, effective plans, and mobilizing tribes, asserting that Yemeni unity would be instrumental in defeating the Houthis. Military analysts, including Ahmed al-Sabahi and Mohammed al-Kamel, highlighted the Yemeni army's strategic adaptations, including targeting the group's supply lines, conducting surprise attacks, and employing multiple fronts. They also noted the utilization of drones and warplanes, indicating that the armed forces' tactics have become more serious in their efforts to liberate Sana a.\n\nThe Houthis' weakened state can be attributed to their past operations, including attacks on Red Sea shipping, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. With the involvement of Iran in the conflict and the subsequent shortage of weapons and equipment, the Houthis may currently be at their weakest point. The Yemeni government, backed by the US, has maintained that the conflict's consequences fall solely on the Houthi group, which must bear the responsibility of ending its terrorizing actions.",
  "summary": "Government forces say their counteroffensive against the Houthi terror group is expanding, while battlefield gains and prospects for foreign intervention remain unclear.",
  "key_points": [
    "Yemeni government announces counteroffensive to retake Sana a from Houthis on September 8, 2023.",
    "Houthis controlled Sana a since late 2014; no previous campaigns could remove them.",
    "Government claims progress in Al-Jawf, Al-Bayda, Taiz, and Al-Hudaydah, but unverified."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The Yemeni government's renewed campaign to retake Sana'a from the Houthis signals a major escalation in the country's conflict, potentially altering the balance of power and control over northern territories.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}