Saudi-backed Yemeni forces launch offensive as Houthis claim attacks on Saudi Arabia

The latest escalation has become a broad campaign by Yemen's internationally recognized government to recapture territory held by the Iran-backed Houthis. Bloomberg reported on October 5 that the government launched the campaign after weeks of escalating conflict between the group and Saudi Arabia.

A road linking Taiz with Aden was an immediate flashpoint. According to Deutsche Welle, the government announced its offensive after Houthi rebels cut that route. Le Monde also reported that the Houthis had encircled Taiz on Sunday.

The conflict is not simply Yemen against Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is supporting Yemen's internationally recognized government against the Houthis. Arab News reported that Riyadh condemned continued Houthi attacks on civilians and civilian and economic infrastructure inside the kingdom.

On October 5, the Saudi-led coalition announced that it was joining the government offensive, according to Franceinfo. The coalition said it attacked 324 "high-value targets" in an air campaign involving 100 fighter jets, Sky News reported.

The coastal push focused on the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The New York Times described the offensive as an effort to wrest control of the strait from the Houthis. Government forces claimed control of the Dhubab district and strategic positions overlooking the waterway, while the Houthis denied those gains, according to Adnkronos.

Later coverage on October 5 described a government advance along the coast toward Mocha. France 24 reported the government's account of a rapid push, and Mint, citing state-run Saba, reported that Yemen's armed forces said they had retaken Mocha after fighting the Houthis.

The Houthis also claimed attacks inside Saudi Arabia on October 5. According to NDTV, the group said it struck Riyadh's international airport, an Aramco refinery and sites across southern Saudi Arabia. Those reports establish the claims, not the extent of damage.

On October 6, The Hindu reported that the Yemeni military said it had carried out more than 1,000 strikes and begun an offensive against Houthi-held Sanaa. Le Monde reported the same day that the Houthis denied any retreat from areas they controlled and claimed further attacks in Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi-led coalition subsequently said it intercepted and destroyed a Houthi ballistic missile, according to Middle East Eye. Saudi Arabia's Cabinet reaffirmed support for Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council and internationally recognized government on October 6, Arab News reported.

Control of the strait remains disputed in the coverage. Yemen's Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani said government forces had secured effective control, although fighting continued nearby, according to South China Morning Post. BBC News reported that Houthi-run media denied government advances in Dhubab.

The distinction matters: capturing coastal positions does not, by itself, establish that fighting over the waterway is finished. Japan Times described the advance as unconfirmed and said it would loosen the Houthis' grip on a vital Red Sea oil route if confirmed.

Casualty claims also require caution. ISNA reported a claim by the spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces that more than 200 Saudi-backed forces had been killed or wounded in recent attacks. The supplied coverage does not independently confirm that figure.

The immediate test is whether government forces can hold their claimed gains around Dhubab and Mocha while continuing toward Sanaa. The Houthis' denial of any retreat, reported by Le Monde, leaves the territorial picture unresolved.

Further attacks inside Saudi Arabia and the coalition's response will shape the next stage. Al Jazeera reported that heavier air power and renewed international support are helping government forces try to reverse Houthi gains. Whether that support produces lasting territorial control remains open.