Yemen president announces major military operation against Houthi rebels

Political and military activity in Yemen has suddenly intensified. Yemen's internationally recognised President Rashad Mohammed al-Alimi has announced a comprehensive military operation to free the rest of the country completely from the control of Houthi rebel groups. He said the country stands at a very delicate and decisive moment in its history, and gave the army direct strategic orders.

Al-Alimi said the country made a great sacrifice by following the path of peace for a long time, but that the military action had now become necessary to restore citizens' basic rights, security and dignity.

Announcing the operation, the President made clear that the action is solely against the armed rebel group known as the Houthis. Ordinary citizens of Sanaa, Hodeidah and Saada are not the target of this war at all. He appealed to ordinary people living in Houthi-held areas to stay away from Houthi military sites and crowded places, and to protect their innocent children from becoming victims of the conflict. He also appealed to Yemen's brotherly countries and international friends to stand firmly with the country, united, in this difficult hour.

In his speech, al-Alimi laid particular stress on relations with Saudi Arabia. He said Yemen regards Saudi Arabia as its most trusted and true partner for shared security and a better future, and thanked Riyadh heartily for its continued support.

Soon after the announcement of the operation, however, the Houthi rebel group claimed a major military action that caused a stir internationally. According to a statement issued by Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree, their forces carried out a major attack with ballistic missiles and explosive drones on the well-known Aramco oil facility in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. It was claimed on the Houthis' channel Al Masirah that the attack started a major fire at the Aramco facility and that the target was hit successfully. They said the action was in response to Saudi air strikes on Sanaa and other parts of Yemen. Early reports also spoke of plumes of smoke and flames visible south of Riyadh.

The Saudi-led military coalition promptly set out its position on the Houthi claim. Coalition spokesperson Major General Turki al-Malki rejected the claim as completely misleading and false. According to al-Malki, it is a staged fabrication meant to cover the heavy losses suffered by Houthi forces on the ground, especially on the Taiz front, and to show a "fake victory" to their supporters.

The Saudi military said the Houthis are currently facing large-scale public anger internally. It said such baseless claims are being made to divert the world's attention because of growing resentment and a string of failures on the military fronts. According to information given by the Yemeni government forces, they carried out more than 97 successful simultaneous military operations against Houthi-backed groups on the strategic fronts of Taiz and Tur al-Bahah, destroying a large quantity of Houthi ammunition and killing several rebels.

The strategically important Taiz region of Yemen has become the main centre of the conflict. The region is currently divided in two, with the Houthis controlling one part and the internationally recognised government forces holding the other. Clashes between the two sides for control have intensified. Yemeni forces have also stepped up attacks on the Houthi strongholds of Sanaa and Saada.

The effects of this latest fighting are not limited to Yemen. There are fears that it could directly affect the international shipping route in the Red Sea and global energy transport. With the truce between the two sides ending and military action intensifying, a serious humanitarian crisis has again arisen in Yemen. Thousands of civilians have begun to be displaced, and there is a severe shortage of grain and of medicines and medical supplies.