US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Monday that the United States would honour its agreements and security commitments to Saudi Arabia, as Yemeni government forces launched a major military operation against the Houthis in areas along the western coast and around the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
Rubio told reporters that the Houthis had attacked Saudi Arabia and posed a threat to it, stressing that the kingdom had the right to defend itself. He described what was happening in Yemen as a “counter-attack against Houthi attacks”, affirming that Washington was committed to honouring its security pledges to Riyadh.
Coalition provides air support for Operation Yemen Dawn
The US secretary of state added that Saudi Arabia and Yemeni forces did not want the Houthis to retain control of the area near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key route for international shipping and trade in the southern Red Sea. Rubio’s remarks coincided with an announcement by the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen that 100 fighter aircraft had taken part during the first hours of Operation Yemen Dawn, launched by the Yemeni government to retake state institutions and territory under Houthi control.
Coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Malki said the aircraft were providing continuous air support to the Yemeni armed forces on the ground, while the air force was protecting the Bab al-Mandab Strait and continuing to engage moving targets.
Al-Malki said the operations had destroyed 324 targets that he described as “high-value” since the campaign began. He also confirmed that full operational support for Yemeni forces would continue, stressing Saudi Arabia’s right to take the necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and security and deter attacks targeting its territory and interests.
Al-Alimi sets out operational objectives and civilian protection guarantees
The details of the campaign and the announced figures could not be independently verified. Yemen’s President of the Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad al-Alimi, had announced on Sunday the start of military operations to retake the remaining territory of the republic and extend the authority of the state and its institutions across the country, saying the decision came after opportunities for de-escalation had been exhausted and the necessary procedures and measures completed.
Al-Alimi said he had instructed the armed forces, security agencies and military formations to carry out the tasks set out in approved plans. He later announced the launch of Operation Yemen Dawn, saying it aimed to restore state institutions, liberate Sana’a and end Houthi control of its institutions.
The president of the Presidential Leadership Council stressed that the operations were not targeting the residents of Sana’a, Saada, Hudaydah or any other governorate, nor were they targeting any sect or tribe. He urged civilians to stay away from military sites and gatherings and supply lines, and instructed the forces to protect civilians and their property and comply with the law as they advanced.
Al-Alimi also announced that he had instructed the government to prepare an action plan enabling state institutions to resume their duties in areas retaken by the forces. The priorities he set included resuming the payment of state employees’ salaries, addressing overdue entitlements, launching recovery and reconstruction programmes, repairing roads and damaged electricity and water networks and facilities, and creating conditions for displaced people to return.
Government attacks target Houthi positions near Bab al-Mandab
Forces affiliated with Yemen’s internationally recognised government launched attacks on Houthi positions along the western coast on Monday, under air cover from the coalition. Pro-government formations said they had moved into the Dhubab area overlooking the Bab al-Mandab Strait, while the Giants Brigades announced the start of a military operation in the same area.
The operation followed a Houthi advance on the ground and the group’s capture of the city of Al-Turbah, located on a main road linking Taiz to Aden, as well as its advance into villages and areas on the outskirts of Taiz. The group had made gains along the Red Sea coast during September, including the city of Mokha and areas and islands near Bab al-Mandab.
