Yemeni Government Forces Launch Counteroffensive to Retake Sanaa as Fighting Intensifies

What happened

Al Jazeera Yemen reports that forces loyal to Yemen’s internationally recognised government have launched a counteroffensive against Houthi rebels with the stated aim of recapturing Sanaa, the capital seized by the Houthis over a decade ago. Deputy Defence Minister Major-General Samir Al-Sabri declared on state television that the decision to retake Sanaa has been made, coinciding with intensified fighting in the provinces of al-Bayda and al-Jawf, which are seen as critical gateways to the capital.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. The intensified clashes follow a period of relative calm under a 2022 United Nations-brokered truce, which the conflict parties have since broken. Fighting resumed in July after government strikes on the Houthi-controlled airport in Sanaa and escalated further when Houthis launched an offensive towards western Taiz and southern Hodeidah, near the strategically vital Bab al-Mandeb Strait—a key corridor for Red Sea shipping and Saudi oil exports.

Government spokesman Majid al-Nuzaili indicated that the military campaign aims to "liberate Yemen from the grip" of the Houthis and stressed civilian warnings against travel on main routes leading into Sanaa connecting Marib and al-Jawf. Meanwhile, the government-aligned media centre reports multiple air attacks on Houthi targets west of Taiz and claims advances near al-Jawf and al-Bayda, while Houthis deny losing ground and claim to have repelled advances, including ballistic missile strikes on government forces’ reinforcements.

Known from the source

• The internationally recognised Yemeni government has launched a counteroffensive to recapture Sanaa from the Houthis.
• Deputy Defence Minister Major-General Samir Al-Sabri publicly announced the decision to retake Sanaa.
• Fighting is currently intense in the provinces of al-Bayda and al-Jawf, considered gateways to Sanaa.
• Fighting resumed in July after government strikes on the Houthi-controlled Sanaa airport.
• Houthis launched an offensive towards western Taiz and southern Hodeidah near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

What remains unclear

Conflict-related casualties continue to rise: the World Health Organization states nearly 900 killed or wounded since the fighting escalated last Thursday, with most casualties in Taiz and along the western coast. Displacement figures are also increasing, with approximately 21,000 people displaced from Taiz alone. Health officials expect these numbers to rise as fighting continues.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Independent verification of current territorial control and frontline shifts in al-Bayda, al-Jawf, Taiz and Hodeidah. Accurate casualty and displacement figures, including separate confirmation beyond WHO reports. Attribution and scale of missile strikes and air attacks claimed by both sides.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: Al Jazeera Yemen. Open the source.