Yemeni forces launch military offensive to retake Red Sea territory

Yemen's internationally recognised government launched a military offensive called Operation Dawn of Yemen on Monday, aiming to reverse Houthi gains along the southern Red Sea coast, Al Jazeera reported. Government forces claimed to have pushed Houthi rebels out of several areas around the Bab al-Mandab strait, according to France 24, RTE and the Guardian. RTE also reported that government forces claimed to have retaken the port city of Mocha, which was captured by Houthi forces last month. [1][3][4][5][7]

Houthi forces have denied losing any territory to government troops while claiming a new attack on the main airport in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, CBS News, France 24 and RTE reported. Ground clashes followed a Houthi offensive launched on September 3 against the Presidential Leadership Council in Taiz Governorate, which prompted counter-offensives across multiple governorates. [2][3][4][5][10]

The government offensive is supported by heavier air power and the Saudi-led military coalition, Al Jazeera and the Guardian reported. As FTMQ News reported earlier, Houthi rebels previously claimed strikes on an Aramco facility in Riyadh, while government forces made earlier gains along the coast. [1][7][12]

The claims made by both sides regarding the territorial gains and military strikes have been impossible to independently verify, according to RTE. [4]