Yemen launches more than 1,000 strikes in bid to retake territory lost to Houthi rebels

The Yemeni military announced a broad set of strikes against Houthi targets on Monday, after the government declared a new campaign to retake all territory even as the Iran-backed group made fresh gains on the ground. The declared offensive sets a lofty goal for the beleaguered Saudi-backed government a month after losing swathes of the country's Red Sea coastline and territory around the Bab al-Mandab Strait – a key chokepoint for international shipping. Read moreYemen's government declares counter-offensive as Houthis cut vital route to besieged city The Houthis, at war against the internationally recognised government, launched a lightning offensive in September that has killed hundreds of combatants on both sides and, according to UN figures, forced more than 145,000 people to flee their homes. While the war in Yemen predates the Middle East war that began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, the fighting there has in recent weeks become the most active front in the wider conflict. Hours after the government announcement, Yemen's military spokesman said its forces launched over 1,000 "strikes against artillery and rocket launcher positions, defensive fortifications, approach and re...