[UPDATE] Yemen's government launches offensive to retake all Houthi-held land, including Sanaa, under Saudi air cover
The U.S. is supplying intelligence and targeting but no strikes "for now."
Yemen's government began an all-out push on Sunday, Oct. 4, to retake every area the Houthis hold. Saudi Arabia gives it air cover, and the U.S. helps pick targets. The Houthis hit Aramco sites and cut the road from Taiz to Aden. President Rashad al-Alimi sent tens of thousands of troops into the fight. He said "we have exhausted all opportunities for deescalation with the Houthi militias."
PREVIOUSLY
- Sep. 11 — More than 100 U.S. advisers were backing the Saudi campaign as the Houthis seized Perim Island in an offensive that killed more than 1,500 soldiers.
- Sep. 14 — The Houthis claimed new missile and drone strikes on Saudi Arabia; a projectile wounded two in al-Tawwal.
- Sep. 23 — Gulf leaders urged Trump not to escalate with Iran after weekend strikes, fearing a wider war and less U.S. defense help.
- Oct. 2 — Vice President JD Vance chaired a secret Camp David meeting on resuming the Iran war and the Saudi bombing request; Trump did not attend.
- Oct. 3 — The U.S. refused Saudi requests for airstrikes on the Houthis and sent targeting data for a Saudi-Yemeni push near Bab al-Mandeb instead.
The Houthi response:
- The Houthis hit Saudi Aramco sites, citing 50 coalition air and missile strikes in 12 hours (BBC).
- They cut the last supply road between Taiz and Aden, leaving Taiz, Yemen's 3rd-largest city, effectively encircled.
- Analyst Farea Al-Muslimi: the Houthis have isolated Taiz from Aden "even if they haven't fully taken control of it."