Yemen’s military backed by Saudi jets attacked Houthi targets including in the capital on Monday (October 5, 2026) as they launched an ambitious counteroffensive to recapture all territory held by the group following its recent lightning gains.
The government announced the lofty goal of retaking all Houthi territory — home to most of Yemen’s population, and much of it held for more than a decade — on Sunday (October 4, 2026). On Sunday (October 4, 2026), Yemen’s military spokesman announced over 1,000 strikes against targets including artillery and rocket launcher positions, combat reinforcements and supply lines.
Coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Maliki said 100 jets flew at daybreak as part of an operation dubbed “Dawn of Yemen”, providing “round-the-clock air support for the Yemeni armed forces on the ground”. Yemen’s military also announced a “strategic offensive” against Sanaa, which has been in Houthi hands since 2014. The Houthis’ official Saba news agency said a girl and a woman were killed in Sanaa governorate on Sunday.
Taiz city remains under the control of government forces but has long been besieged from the north, east and west by Houthi fighters. The Yemeni military said it carried out more than 1,000 strikes and began an offensive against the Houthi-held capital, Sanaa, while the Saudi-led coalition supporting the internationally recognised government said 100 warplanes flew sorties at dawn. On Sunday, the group effectively encircled the city of Taiz after cutting the main supply route linking it to the interim government capital of Aden.
