Yemen’s Internationally Recognized Government Launches a Serious Challenge to the Houthis

The Iran-backed Houthis march down Yemen’s west coast looked easy, but holding the territory is proving more difficult.

Yemen’s internationally recognized government began Operation “Dawn of Yemen”— a counteroffensive to reverse the Houthis’ September gains on the country’s Red Sea coast — with Saudi support on October 5. So far, forces aligned with the Yemeni government have retaken some key coastal territory along Bab al-Mandab, the Red Sea’s southern chokepoint. Riyadh supported Yemeni advances with 100 jets that struck over 300 targets, according Major General Turki al-Maliki, the spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.

But the operation is not stopping with the Red Sea coast. President Rashad al-Alimi, head of the country’s Presidential Leadership Council said the operation intends to “liberate the capital, Sana’a, and end the coup by the terrorist Houthi militias.” The Saudi-led coalition statement endorsed Yemeni steps to ensure “the Terrorist Houthi Militia is eliminated.”

Following the 2022 UN-brokered ceasefire in Yemen, Saudi Arabia has prioritized deescalation vis-a-vis the Houthis. Operation Dawn of Yemen therefore signals a shift in Riyadh’s policy towards military confrontation. However, it is uncertain how long Saudi Arabia will remain committed to fighting — and if Yemeni forces can translate west coast wins into a challenge to Houthi control in northern Yemen.

Current Fighting Focused on Taiz

After seizing Taiz’s entire Red Sea coast, which extends down to Bab al-Mandeb, by September 11, the Houthis have been fighting Yemeni government forces and their partners inland, in the governorate’s central and eastern highlands. They also sought to isolate Taiz city, the governorate capital in the east, which sits at the intersection of routes to the west coast and south to the government-controlled interim capital of Aden. On October 5, as the Yemeni government launched its operation on the west coast, the Houthis seized a key city along the Taiz-Aden Road. This has enabled the Houthis to interrupt the crucial supply route between Taiz and government-controlled territory in the south.

The Taiz Axis of the Yemeni Armed Forces, with the popular resistance, launched five offensive operations across Taiz, particularly in the highlands and around Taiz city, on October 5. The Taiz Axis media center reported around 100 Houthi deaths. Meanwhile the Southern Giants Brigade and National Shield Forces, armed groups aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognized government, seized the coast along Bab al-Mandeb.

Saudi Arabia Supports Yemeni Forces With Limited International Involvement

Washington continues to deny Saudi requests for American airstrikes against the Houthis which Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid Bin Salman reportedly asked for on October 1 on a call with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. However, American officials said that there are over 200 American advisors providing intelligence and targeting support, with the U.S. also providing aerial refueling to Saudi planes on defensive operations. The UK is providing refueling “to support Saudi defensive activity in support of the legitimate government of Yemen.”

French President Emmanuel Macron said that the country is sending “soldiers, radar systems, and defense systems” to assist in the defense of Saudi energy infrastructure on the Red Sea.

Turkey and Pakistan, members of the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement with Saudi Arabia, announced a “rapid deployment” of forces and capabilities to the Kingdom on October 5. Turkish officials said they are providing Riyadh with technical and defense support, including air defense systems.

Washington has Non-Kinetic Options To Support the Anti-Houthi Effort

While Washington opts against targeting the Houthis kinetically, Treasury should be acting to isolate the group financially.

This should include sanctioning financial institutions, exchange houses, and front companies that enable the group to access the global financial systems and procure weapons and technology. The Trump administration should also tell Oman that the country must take a proactive approach in banning Houthi financial activity or Omani institutions will face designation. Treasury should also identify and block additional Houthi crypto wallets which are a growing financial resource for the group.

Bridget Toomey is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). For more analysis from Bridget and FDD, please subscribe HERE. Follow FDD on X @FDD. Follow Bridget on X @BridgetKToomey. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.