Yemen’s leader announces military operation to retake Houthi-held territory

Rashad al-Alimi says the campaign aims to restore state authority throughout Yemen.Published On 4 Oct 20264 Oct 2026⁠The ⁠Saudi Arabia-backed head of ⁠Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, ⁠Rashad al-Alimi, has announced the start of military operations to retake the ⁠remaining territory held by ⁠the Iran-backed Houthi armed group ⁠and restore ⁠state ⁠authority across the country.In a televised address, al-Alimi said on Sunday the internationally recognised government’s forces would extend “the authority of the state and its institutions over the entire national territory”.“We have instructed the armed forces, security forces and all military formations to begin carrying out their assigned tasks under an approved plan until the country is liberated from the Houthis,” he said.Al-Alimi added that all state institutions will be placed on full alert “until the mission is completed and victory is achieved”.Hundreds of Houthis killedThe development comes after Yemeni forces “executed 257 precision targeting operations” against Houthi sites, movements, and military capabilities on Saturday, according to the spokesman for Yemen’s internationally recognised government forces, Colonel Maj...