Yemen’s internationally recognized government announced a major military offensive against the Houthis on Sunday, Oct. 4, following rebel advances along the Red Sea coast and toward a vital road linking Taiz to Aden.

Rashad al-Alimi, head of the Presidential Leadership Council, said the campaign would seek to restore government control over all Houthi-held territory. The Iran-backed movement has held the capital, Sanaa, and much of northwestern Yemen since 2014.

The announcement follows preparations for a Saudi-supported assault. Regional and Western officials stated that Yemeni forces would lead ground operations, backed by Saudi airstrikes. The officials said Riyadh had considered both a coastal offensive and coordinated attacks across several fronts.

The Houthis’ recent gains have raised the stakes for government forces. Rebel fighters captured stretches of the western coast last month and advanced onto strategic hilltops near Taiz in the past 48 hours. Their push threatens the city’s remaining road connection to Aden. Losing that route could deepen the isolation of hundreds of thousands of civilians.

The coastal fighting also threatens commercial shipping through Bab el-Mandeb, the passage connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. On Sunday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center reported explosions near a tanker south of Mokha. The crew was reported safe, and authorities were investigating. The report did not establish who caused the blasts.

The exchanges have extended into Saudi Arabia. The Houthis claimed missile and drone attacks on Saudi Aramco facilities in Riyadh and Khurais. Saudi Arabia had not immediately confirmed those claims, Reuters reported.

The offensive marks a further escalation after a 2022 truce sharply reduced fighting. Whether the government can reverse the Houthis’ gains remains unclear. Its announced aim of retaking all rebel-held territory goes well beyond securing the coast or keeping Taiz’s supply road open.