Yemeni government troops push toward Houthi-held capital
Forces loyal to Yemen's internationally recognized government have begun a counteroffensive against Houthi rebels, with officials vowing to retake Sanaa. Fighting intensified in al-Bayda and al-Jawf provinces, and the Houthis reported at least seven killed in a strike on a prison. This escalation is the most serious since a 2022 UN-brokered truce.
The counteroffensive follows a Houthi push last week toward the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a critical maritime route for Saudi oil exports. Government forces have now expanded clashes across multiple fronts, including al-Dhalea and Marib, aiming to stretch rebel defenses. Al-Jawf holds strategic value due to its border with Saudi Arabia and proximity to the Houthi heartland of Saada.
Officials have issued civilian warnings for major roads linking Sanaa to Marib and al-Jawf, including routes through Nihm and Sirwah. The current escalation marks the most significant breakdown of the 2022 UN-brokered truce, which had previously halted large-scale combat. The conflict originally ignited in 2014 when Houthis seized Sanaa, drawing a Saudi-led coalition into the war the following year.
The renewed offensive could deepen Yemen's humanitarian crisis, as civilians in al-Jawf and al-Bayda may face displacement and disrupted access to essential services. The warning to avoid major roads suggests potential for further civilian casualties and supply shortages in Sanaa. A prolonged siege or battle for the capital may also fracture fragile local alliances, potentially prolonging instability across the region.