Yemen launches counter-operation against Houthis after deadly strikes

Yemen’s internationally recognised government forces have launched a military counter-operation against the Houthis following a series of missile and drone attacks on military positions in the provinces of Marib and Hadramout, according to a military spokesman.

Yemeni army spokesman Majed al-Nazili said the government forces had begun responding to the attacks and would not tolerate threats against civilians, troops or military positions.

“We will give a decisive military response to the threats facing the Yemeni people and armed forces,” al-Nazili said, according to the statement cited by local media.

The announcement comes after Houthi forces carried out a series of attacks on government-aligned military camps in Marib and Hadramout. Recent reports said at least 30 Yemeni government soldiers were killed and 15 others wounded in the strikes.

The escalation has raised fresh concerns over the fragile security situation in Yemen, where large-scale fighting had significantly declined following the UN-mediated truce that began in April 2022. Although the truce formally expired later that year, the country avoided a full return to nationwide warfare for an extended period.

The latest violence is being closely watched because Marib remains strategically important to Yemen’s government, while Hadramout is a major eastern province with significant military and economic importance.

The United Nations has repeatedly warned that renewed military escalation could undermine diplomatic efforts and worsen Yemen’s already severe humanitarian crisis. The UN Security Council has stressed the need for restraint and a Yemeni-led political process as the most viable route toward a lasting settlement.

The latest developments could therefore mark a dangerous turning point if the government’s promised counter-operation leads to sustained fighting.

For millions of Yemenis already affected by years of conflict, renewed hostilities could bring further displacement, economic hardship and pressure on essential services.

With both sides now trading threats and military strikes, attention is turning to whether the latest confrontation remains limited—or develops into a broader escalation across Yemen.