Yemen prepares ‘biggest offensive ever seen' against Houthi rebels with US support
Yemeni government is reportedly mustering a massive army in preparation for a ground offensive – supported by US firepower and intelligence – against the Iran-backed Houthi rebel movement, which has been attacking commercial shipping in the Red Sea and launching missiles at Israel since the outbreak of the
war in Gaza
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Meetings have been under way this week between the Saudi Arabia-based government-in-exile, known as the Yemen Leadership Council, and various factions to plan and coordinate the campaign against the
Houthis , who have seized control of the capital Sanaa, Red Sea ports and key populated areas since 2014.
Progress appeared to have been made by Thursday, with President Rashad Muhammad Al-Alimi praising 'broad national alignment,' and the readiness of combined forces to wage 'a battle for salvation' against the Houthis.
'The Houthis are a permanent threat to international peace and security,' Alimi said.
The Houthis are the largest faction in the Iran-led Axis of Resistance, which includes Lebanese Hezbollah and Palestinian Hamas – both severely weakened by Israel since October 2023, along with various Iraqi militia groups.
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According to Emily Milliken, an associate director of the Washington-based Atlantic Council think tank's Middle East programmes, the Yemeni government may be mobilising 80,000 troops to reclaim Hodeidah, the largest port on the Red Sea and a critical logistics hub for the Houthis, as well as a vital lifeline for Yemen's civilians.
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