Yemen Launches Major Offensive Against Houthis in Escalating War

Yemen's military, supported by Saudi-led airstrikes, launched a large-scale offensive on Monday to retake territory from the Houthi rebels. The campaign, dubbed 'Operation Dawn of Yemen,' involved over 1,000 strikes and 100 warplanes targeting Houthi positions. The operation aims to reclaim all areas held by the Iran-backed group, which has controlled much of Yemen for over a decade. The Houthis recently seized coastal regions along the Red Sea and the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait, a critical choke point for global oil and cargo shipping.

The escalating conflict has raised concerns about global oil supplies. Saudi Aramco's CEO, Amin Nasser, warned that global oil stockpiles are dangerously low due to the ongoing Middle East war. He noted that the 'supply resilience cushion is scarily thin,' highlighting the strain on energy markets. The Houthis have targeted Saudi oil infrastructure and tankers in the Red Sea, exacerbating supply disruptions.

Despite the intense airstrikes, the Houthis continue to advance on the ground. They have effectively encircled the key city of Taiz, cutting off its main supply route to Aden. Residents of Taiz remain defiant, vowing to stay and defend their city. Analysts caution that while the Houthi advance is significant, it is too early to determine if it marks a decisive turning point in the conflict.

The war in Yemen, one of the world's poorest countries, has caused a devastating humanitarian crisis. The conflict has displaced over 145,000 people and left a majority of the population reliant on aid. The Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015, but the war has since become a major front in the broader Middle East conflict.