Yemeni forces begin military operation to retake capital Sanaa

Yemeni government forces launched a strategic military operation on Monday targeting the capital Sanaa. The official spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Majed Abdullah Al-Nuzyali, stated that the military institution has begun executing this strategic offensive operation inside Sanaa. It is worth noting that the Yemeni Armed Forces had previously announced, on Monday, October 5, 2026, the complete establishment of control over the strategic Bab el-Mandeb strait, along with the Dhubab district and airport in western Taiz, coinciding with the launch of a comprehensive military campaign named "Yemen Dawn," aimed primarily at reclaiming the capital Sanaa. In the same context, the military spokesman revealed the execution of 1,122 precise targeting operations carried out via warplanes, drones, artillery, missile systems, and sniper units during the first hours of the operation. These strikes resulted in the neutralization of 1,747 elements, as well as the destruction and impairment of 364 military vehicles, transport means, and equipment, covering frontlines, defense lines, and supply routes across Saada, Al-Jawf, Taiz, and the Western Coast governorates. On the supporting operational front, the Arab coalition supporting legitimacy disclosed the participation of 100 fighter jets during the initial hours of the "Yemen Dawn" operation, executing intensive airstrikes and round-the-clock sorties to secure air cover for the Bab el-Mandeb strait and provide support to advancing ground forces. This broad field escalation follows the announcement by Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi regarding the transition to comprehensive military action to end the Houthi coup and restore state institutions. This decision came in the wake of field gains achieved by the Houthis in previous weeks along the Red Sea coast, where they seized the city of Al-Mokha, the town of Dhubab, and reached Mayun Island in the Bab el-Mandeb strait. The protection of the Bab el-Mandeb waterway constitutes a major axis in current operations, given the prior Houthi control over strategic positions overlooking the Red Sea and the escalating risks threatening international navigation and trade traffic through this vital maritime corridor.