Saudi-Led Coalition Launches Major Offensive Against Houthis in Yemen

Yemen’s military, supported by Saudi-led airstrikes, launched a major offensive on Monday to reclaim territory from the Houthi rebels. The campaign, dubbed 'Operation Dawn of Yemen,' involved over 1,000 strikes and 100 warplanes targeting Houthi positions. The goal is to retake all Houthi-controlled areas, including coastal regions along the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab strait, a critical shipping route.

The escalation follows recent Houthi advances, including the encirclement of the key city of Taiz. Residents vowed to defend the city, despite the dire situation. The conflict has deepened Yemen’s humanitarian crisis, with over 145,000 people displaced and a majority of the population reliant on aid.

Meanwhile, Saudi Aramco’s CEO Amin Nasser warned that global oil stockpiles are dangerously low due to the U.S.-Iran war. The Houthis have targeted Saudi oil infrastructure, further straining supplies. The broader Middle East war has intensified the Yemen conflict, making it the most active front in recent weeks.

Analysts caution that while the Houthi encirclement of Taiz is significant, it is too early to determine if this marks a decisive turning point. The long-running war has caused hundreds of thousands of deaths and a spiraling humanitarian disaster.