Yemen has entered a new phase after the Yemeni leadership announced the launch of Operation Yemen Dawn aimed at restoring the state and ending the coup by the Iran-backed terrorist Houthi militia.
The operation spans the west coast and Baba al-Mandeb Strait, as well as Taiz, Marib, al-Jawf, Midi and aims to liberate Sanaa from the Houthis. The air force has carried out in recent days air strikes against the Houthis in the capital.
As the scale of operations expands across multiple fronts, questions are mounting over the ability of government forces to translate field advancements into broader shifts along the lines of contact. Uncertainty also surrounds how seizing control of Bab al-Mandeb and securing coastal areas will influence the battle, alongside the role of the coalition’s aerial support in sustaining ground operations.
Yemeni Minister of Information Muammar al-Eryani told Asharq Al-Awsat in an exclusive interview that the address delivered by President of the Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi “reflects absolute clarity regarding the political and military objectives of the current phase.”
“We are not talking about a limited battle to achieve temporary field gains, but rather a path aimed at restoring state institutions, authority, and sovereignty over the entire nation, and ending the situation imposed by the Houthi coup,” he remarked.
He noted that the “core message the PLC intended to convey is that the state has entered a new phase, moving from crisis management to executing the decision to restore the state.”
“All resources of the state, the armed forces, security, and military formations, as well as the Yemeni people, must stand behind the national objective,” he urged.
The Yemen Dawn Operation is “a war to restore the state, its institutions, and its sovereignty, rather than to reclaim specific regions or achieve limited gains,” Eryani said.
Advances
Eryani confirmed that the armed forces, represented by the Giants and Nation’s Shield forces, have successfully recaptured the city of Mokha, the Bab al-Mandeb region, Dhubab, and surrounding strategic sites in a major field development under the new operation.
Current efforts are focused on completing securing, sweeping, and clearing operations on islands near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait to consolidate control and prevent the re-emergence of threats to this vital waterway, he added.
“For the government, Bab al-Mandeb is not merely a geographic location or a military asset, but an integral part of Yemen's security and sovereignty. At the same time, it serves as a critical international corridor for trade and navigation, meaning its securing represents a combined Yemeni, regional, and international interest,” he stressed.
Aerial support
Eryani described the aerial support from the Saudi-led Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen as an “important factor” in sustaining the advancement of troops on the ground, noting its impact on the ability of the armed forces and military formations to execute simultaneous operations across multiple fronts.
He noted that the coalition announced the participation of around 100 fighter jets at the launch of the Yemen Dawn Operation.
“The primary objectives of the operation consist of reclaiming areas where the Houthi militia has recently expanded, completing the restoration of state territories and institutions, and securing strategic corridors and sites, foremost among them the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the coastal strip,” said the minister.
Multiple fronts
Military operations are taking place across multiple axes, including the west coast, Taiz, Marib, al-Jawf, and Midi, he added.
“Several fronts no longer means a multiplicity of goals; the objective is one: restoring and clearing the remaining state territories and institutions, and extending its sovereignty over the entire national territory,” he stressed.
Reclaiming Sanaa
On the operation’s goal to reclaim Sanaa, Eryani said it is the Houthi-held capital and the center of state institutions.
“Its recapture is the ultimate goal of this operation. All Yemenis look forward to the day when the capital returns to the fold of the state and its institutions,” he added.
He added that over the past few days, the air force carried out operations targeting Houthi military sites, coinciding with the armed forces beginning a “strategic offensive” on the capital using modern capabilities.
“The armed forces are moving according to approved military plans. As for the field details and the nature of movements and breakthroughs, these are military matters, and their results will be announced at the appropriate time. Operation Yemen Dawn does not target a city, a sect, or residents, but rather aims to restore the state, its institutions, and end the coup,” he stressed.
“The objective is not merely to achieve a military breakthrough or alter the lines of contact, but rather to restore the state, clear Yemeni territory of the manifestations of the coup, reinstate state institutions, and extend its authority and sovereignty,” Eryani stated.
“We are facing a broad national battle waged by Yemenis using their capabilities, armed forces, and military formations, with the support and backing of the Coalition led by Saudi Arabia,” he continued.
“What has been achieved so far confirms that the operation has entered a new phase, and that Yemenis look forward to completing its goals and successfully restoring their state, capital, and institutions,” he noted.
“Ultimately, success is measured not only by field achievements, but by the subsequent return of the state, security, stability, and normal life to the Yemeni people,” he remarked.
