In Yemen announced the beginning of a military operation to liberate the capital from the Houthis

Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi announced the beginning of the military operation “Dawn” against the members of the movement “Ansar Allah” (Houthi). Among the goals of the campaign is to push back the group and regain control in Sanaa, the capital of the country, which has been under their control for more than 10 years. More than 100,000 Yemeni soldiers can take part in the offensive.

“An operation has been launched ... with the aim of restoring state institutions, liberating the capital Sana’a and stopping the coup d’etat carried out by the Houthi terrorist group,” al-Alimi said.

According to Reuters, citing three sources involved in the operation, Yemeni government forces have already captured part of the Dhubab area, located near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Now they are trying to establish full control over the territory. They are supported from the air by the Saudi Air Force. No direct involvement of allies in the conflict is expected.

On the eve of the agency, citing sources, wrote that the Houthis are successfully moving to Aden, the temporary capital of the central authorities. A few days earlier, on September 28, the Yemeni government announced a general mobilization, noting an acute shortage of personnel in the army. Then Rashad al-Alimi appealed not only to supporters, but also to the Houthis. The president promised to grant them amnesty and even pay cash rewards if they switched sides with government troops.

The conflict, which began in 2014, escalated sharply in July this year: the parties began exchanging blows, and the Houthis went on the offensive. By mid-September, they had taken control of western Yemen, including the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, an alternative to the blockaded Strait of Hormuz. Periodically, the group shells the oil and military infrastructure of Saudi Arabia with drones.