Yemen Launches Operation Yemen Dawn Offensive Against Houthis

“All opportunities for de-escalation have been exhausted,” Rashad al-Alimi declared on Sunday, announcing an offensive named Operation Yemen Dawn aimed at retaking Houthi-held territory. The head of Yemen’s internationally recognised Presidential Leadership Council called on forces to carry out their assigned missions until the country is liberated from the Houthi militia, bbc.co.uk reported.

Operation Yemen Dawn Begins Along Frontlines

The offensive launched after the Houthis reportedly cut a mountain road near the south-western city of Taiz. That move left government forces and local residents in the area effectively surrounded. Yemen has been fractured by civil war since 2014, when the Houthis ousted the government from Sanaa. A Saudi-led coalition intervened the following year to restore state rule. While an informal four-year ceasefire held for a time, it began to unravel in July when the Houthis announced a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia.

Since the recent escalation, at least 959 people have been killed and 5,000 injured in the fighting since August 6, according to the government’s health ministry. The United Nations reports that another 197,000 people have been displaced by the violence.

Red Sea Seizure Disrupts Global Shipping Lanes

A surprise offensive last month along Yemen’s south-western Red Sea coast pushed pro-government forces away from areas overlooking the Bab al-Mandab Strait, including Mokha, Dhubab, and Perim Island. Houthi leadership stated they posed no threat to international shipping passing through the waterway generally, but maintained they would continue targeting vessels connected to Saudi Arabia.

The seizure of the strait contributed to a sharp surge in global oil prices. Saudi Arabia had been relying heavily on the Red Sea for oil exports after separate conflicts in the Gulf effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz.

More on this story: Yemeni government forces report retaking positions near Bab al-Mandeb · Yemen declares general mobilization as combat with Houthi fighters spikes

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