Yemen govt forces launch major offensive against Houthis, seize Thubab near Bab al-Mandab

Sanaa, Oct 5 (UNI) Yemeni government forces have taken control of Thubab near the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait as part of a widening military offensive against the Iran-backed Houthi movement, according to Yemeni military officials and regional reports.

Yemen's President and Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad al-Alimi, on Sunday announced a large-scale campaign dubbed "Dawn of Yemen", aimed at retaking territory held by the Houthis and restoring state institutions. The President of the Leadership Council said the operation is to restore state institutions, liberate Sana'a, and end the coup. "With the will of our people, the bravery of our forces, and the support of our brothers, Yemen will move toward a new dawn," Al-Alimi said on Monday.

The government forces' advance on Thubab is being conducted via manoeuvres from the Kahbub Mountains. Government troops are also advancing north along the western coast toward Mokha, while Houthi forces have reportedly come under pressure around Bab al-Mandab and Mayun Island. Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Maj Gen Majed Abdullah Al-Nuzaili said the latest strikes were carried out following directives from the country's political leadership. Yemeni Armed Forces announced the start of the battle for liberation to seize state institutions from Houthi control and put an end to the group's coup, Al Jazeera reported.

"Our armed forces continue their military operations across various combat axes and fronts according to approved plans. Our armed forces executed 1,122 targets on Houthi militia infrastructure across the Saada, Al-Jawf and Taiz," Al-Nuzaili said. "According to field reports, these operations resulted in neutralising 1,747 militia elements and destroying or disabling 364 military vehicles, equipment, and supply transport units," he added. The offensive has intensified fighting in Taiz, a strategically important governorate that links Yemen's Houthi-controlled north with government-held areas in the south. The region includes the port city of Mokha and lies close to the Bab al-Mandab Strait, one of the world's key maritime chokepoints.

Al-Alimi announced the military campaign on Sunday, describing it as a new phase in the government's effort to reclaim territory controlled by the Houthis. "Today we are embarking on a decisive phase in the history of our nation," Al-Alimi said, adding that the state had made "great sacrifices" in choosing the path of peace. He said the campaign is intended to restore security, rights and dignity to civilians living in Houthi-controlled areas, stressing that those civilians were not targets of the military operation.

The Saudi-led Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen has also pledged continued operational support for Yemeni government forces until state institutions are restored and the Houthi threat is eliminated. Government and Houthi forces have been engaged in heavy fighting around Taiz, particularly near Jabal Han, a mountain overlooking the city and an important route for movement of people and supplies, as per media reports. Yemeni military forces have reported capturing several positions, including Samaa Fort, and repelling Houthi attacks around Jabal Han and Hazran.

Al-Nuzaili said government forces had used aircraft, drones, artillery, missiles and snipers in operations against Houthi positions. Houthi forces, meanwhile, have attempted to advance toward Taiz under artillery, tank, mortar and rocket fire, according to reports from the area. The fighting has also reached rural communities surrounding Taiz City, with local residents reportedly taking part in efforts to resist Houthi advances.

The renewed fighting is adding to an already severe humanitarian crisis. Nearly 200,000 people have reportedly been displaced in Yemen since fighting escalated in early September, with many of those displaced coming from Taiz governorate. The closure of major roads leading into Taiz has raised concerns over access to food, medicine and other essential supplies. The UNHCR and World Health Organisation have warned that renewed fighting is placing additional pressure on Yemen's fragile healthcare system.

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