On Monday, the Saudi-led military coalition declared its participation in an offensive initiated by the Yemeni government against Iranian-backed Houthi forces, according to reports from France Presse and Reuters.
“One hundred fighter jets took part today, at dawn, in the operation ‘Sunrise in Yemen,'” announced coalition spokesman General Turki al-Maliki on X, adding that the coalition provides “24/7 air support to ground forces of Yemen.” He also stated, “We have destroyed 324 high-value targets since the operation began.”
The coalition is also tasked with ensuring air protection over the strategically vital Bab el-Mandeb Strait, crucial for international maritime trade, while continuing operations against “mobile targets,” the spokesman noted.
Operation ‘Sunrise in Yemen’ Launched Sunday
On Sunday, Houthi forces blocked a key route connecting Taez, a major southwestern city now surrounded, to Aden, where the internationally recognized government is based.
Rachad al-Alimi, head of the Yemeni Presidential Council, immediately announced the launch of an offensive aimed at reclaiming all territory, dubbed “Sunrise in Yemen.”
According to military and government sources reported by Reuters, Yemeni government forces, supported by Saudi Arabia, captured key positions in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Monday.
The government forces took control of extensive areas in the Dhubab district, which dominates the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and assert full control of the area, with intensive air support from the Saudi-led coalition, sources indicated.
Media aligned with the Houthi movement previously denied that government forces had made advances in the area.
Houthi Forces Cause Major Issues for Saudi Arabia
In September, the Houthi movement dealt significant defeats to Yemeni government forces and their Saudi allies, particularly consolidating control over the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The Houthis also carry out regular strikes against Saudi Arabia, an ally of the Yemeni government, launching numerous attacks on the kingdom and imposing a blockade on its fleet.
A strike carried out on Sunday in eastern Saudi Arabia, claimed by the Houthis, disrupted oil transport through the East-West pipeline, an energy sector source told AFP on Monday.
This pipeline has become crucial for Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter, since Iran imposed severe restrictions on navigation in the Strait of Hormuz at the onset of the Middle Eastern war, blocking the main route for Saudi oil exports to international markets.
