Yemeni forces launch offensive to retake territory from Houthis

Yemen's internationally recognized government has launched a military offensive to retake Houthi-held territory, DW News and The Guardian reported. According to France 24, government forces declared a counter-offensive and claimed on Monday to have pushed the Houthis out of the Bab al-Mandab area, a key shipping route. France 24 also reported that the Houthis claimed an attack on the main airport in Riyadh while denying on Tuesday that they had lost territory as fighting intensified. [1][2][3]

The Guardian reported that forces allied with the internationally recognized government retook several key areas around the Bab al-Mandab strait under air cover provided by a Saudi military coalition. Euronews reported that the military campaign, named Operation Yemen Dawn, was supported by 100 Saudi coalition aircraft and retook the town of Dhubab just north of the strait. According to Euronews, Pakistan and Turkey also agreed to deploy troops to Saudi Arabia. [3][4][6]

DW News reported that Yemeni Presidential Council chief Rashad al-Alimi announced an overall goal of retaking all territory held by the rebels. Meanwhile, Euronews reported that the Houthis claimed to have struck the international airport in Riyadh, an oil refinery, and military bases across Saudi Arabia. The Houthis are a Zaydi revivalist political and paramilitary organization that emerged from Yemen in the 1990s and are backed by Iran. [2][4][13]

CBS News reported that Brent crude oil prices hovered around $100 a barrel as the conflict over control of Red Sea shipping lanes continued. Human Rights Watch separately reported that Houthi de facto authorities in Yemen have sent at least eight people involved in human rights and humanitarian work for prosecution. [5][7]