Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi announced on Sunday the start of military operations against the Iran-backed Houthi group to reclaim the remaining territory of the republic and extend the authority of the state and its institutions. He said the government had moved from the stage of preparation to action after exhausting opportunities for de-escalation.
Al-Alimi’s announcement came as Iran-backed Houthi forces made advances in Taiz Governorate, amid the group’s ongoing escalation since early September.
In an address to Yemenis, al-Alimi said the decision to begin operations was based on decisions by the National Defense Council, and that he had directed the armed forces, security forces and military formations to carry out their assigned tasks in accordance with approved plans.
He added that the Houthis had responded to de-escalation efforts with mobilization and escalation, and had expanded their attacks and threats against civilians, national facilities, neighboring countries and international waterways.
Al-Alimi said the operations, as he described them, do not target residents of Sanaa, Saada, Hodeidah or any other governorate, and are not a war against a sect or tribe. Rather, he said, they aim to restore state institutions and prevent Yemenis’ will from being overridden by force of arms.
He urged residents in areas under Houthi control to stay away from military sites and gatherings and supply routes, and to protect their children from being drawn into the fighting.
Al-Alimi renewed the government’s commitment to what he called “safe return” and the announced amnesty for those who stop fighting in Houthi ranks. He also called on government forces to protect civilians and their property, saying their mission is not limited to reclaiming territory but also includes restoring the state there.
On civilian affairs, al-Alimi said he had directed the government to prepare a program of work to run alongside the operations, so state institutions can begin carrying out their responsibilities in areas that are retaken.
According to the address, priorities include paying state employees’ salaries and settling their overdue entitlements, launching a recovery and reconstruction program, repairing infrastructure, and creating conditions for displaced people to return and economic activity to resume.
He also reaffirmed the Leadership Council’s commitment to the outcomes of the Saudi-sponsored Southern-Southern Dialogue, including a fair and comprehensive resolution to the southern issue. He thanked Riyadh for its support to the Yemeni government and called on countries and international partners to support Yemen’s humanitarian and economic efforts and reconstruction programs.
Following al-Alimi’s address, the Yemeni armed forces announced the start of the “Liberation Battle to complete the restoration of state institutions and end the Houthi coup.”
The armed forces’ official spokesperson, Colonel Majed al-Nuzaili, said the battle aims to restore state territory and establish full national sovereignty. He described it as “the true bridge” to returning Yemen to its Arab fold. He also urged Houthi fighters to lay down their arms and return home, affirming the forces’ commitment to protecting civilians.
For his part, the spokesperson for the coalition supporting the Yemeni government, Major General Turki al-Maliki, announced the continuation of operational support for the Yemeni armed forces and assistance to the government in restoring the state.
The coalition statement linked this support to confronting what it described as Houthi attacks on Yemenis and Saudi Arabia, and to ending threats to navigation in the southern Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
The military announcement, together with pledges to restore services and institutions in retaken areas, presents the government with the challenge of translating its statements into coordinated military and civilian measures.
