Al-Alimi says the government has moved from preparation to military operations; Sanaa, Hodeidah and Saada enter the calculations of a new phase, while the “Safe Return” initiative remains open before the confrontation widens

Aden | BETH

Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi announced on Sunday the start of military operations to reclaim the remaining Yemeni territories and restore state authority across the country, declaring a shift from preparation and mobilization to direct military action after what he described as the exhaustion of opportunities for de-escalation.

The announcement culminates a course that began in late September with decisions on general mobilization and the “Safe Return” initiative for those seeking to leave Houthi ranks, followed by an acceleration of military activity across several fronts, particularly in Taiz, involving air power, drones and artillery strikes targeting command centers, troop movements and military supply lines.

Al-Alimi stressed that the operations are not directed against residents of Sanaa, Hodeidah or Saada, nor against any sect or tribe. He urged civilians to stay away from military positions and said the amnesty and “Safe Return” initiative would remain open to those who abandon the fighting.

What Has Changed?

The central shift is that the Yemeni government is no longer presenting the restoration of the state as a distant political objective, but as a direct military goal.

On the ground, the escalation is not beginning from zero. Recent weeks have seen activity across the fronts in Al-Jawf, Al-Bayda, Taiz and Hodeidah, with operations intensifying noticeably in recent days.

Strategically, the battle is no longer tied to Sanaa alone. The western coast and Bab al-Mandab have become part of the direct military equation, as the Red Sea has evolved into an extension of the conflict and maritime security has become increasingly linked to the balance of territorial control inside Yemen.

Al-Alimi thanked Saudi Arabia for its support, describing the Kingdom as a partner in “destiny and security,” underscoring that the new phase must also be viewed within a broader equation involving Saudi security, the Red Sea and international shipping lanes.

BETH Analysis:
The announcement does not yet define the scale of the operation or its first direction, but it clearly signals a change in the rules of the current phase: from containing the Houthis to reshaping the balance of territorial control on the ground.