Yemeni gov’t forces aim for Sanaa, but Houthi defeat will be a challenge

Yemeni government forces have claimed advances along the strategic Bab al-Mandeb strait after the head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, ⁠Rashad al-Alimi, announced the start of a major offensive to capture all territories lost to the Houthis.On Monday, forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognised government claimed the advance and headed north along the Red Sea coast, and said they had retaken the town of Dhubab and port city of Mocha. They also earlier said that they had launched a “strategic offensive” on the Houthi-held capital Sanaa.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Photos: Yemen’s hospitals struggle to operate amid persistent power outageslist 2 of 3Yemeni forces reclaim Dhubab, key positions near Bab al-Mandeb from Houthislist 3 of 3Yemen war: What’s the latest, as government forces claim advances?end of listGovernment forces are also attempting to reverse gains made by the Houthis in recent days around the key city of Taiz, in southwestern Yemen.The Houthis, an Iranian-allied movement, have held the capital Sanaa since September 2014, before making other territorial gains in northern and western Yemen.After four years of relative calm, fighti...