Jump to content

Operation Dawn of Yemen

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Operation Dawn of Yemen
عملية "فجر اليمن"
Part of Yemeni civil war (2014–present) and 2026 Yemen offensives

Military situation in Yemen
Date5 October 2026 – present
Location
Yemen
Status Ongoing
Belligerents
Yemen
Saudi Arabia		 Houthis
Units involved

YemenYemeni Armed Forces

Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabian Armed Force

 Houthis
Casualties and losses
Unknown
  • Per PLC:
    • 12,000 Houthi militants killed or wounded[1]

On 5 October 2026, the Yemeni Armed Forces, under the leadership of the internationally-recognized Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) government of the Republic of Yemen, backed by Saudi Arabia launched a large scale counter-offensive against the Houthi rebels of the Supreme Political Council (SPC), aimed at retaking areas of the country under their control, including the capital Sanaa.[2][3]

Background

[edit]

See also: 2026 Yemen offensives

Following a UN-backed ceasefire in 2022 and the dissolution of the Southern Transitional Council following the 2025–26 southern Yemen campaign, fighting between the Yemeni PLC government and Houthi-led SPC ceased until July 2026, when fighting erupted once again as part of a broader escalation in regional tensions.[4] On 3 September, the Houthis launched Operation God Is Stronger In Might and More Severe In Punishment, making rapid advances over western Yemen and claiming control over Yemen's entire Red Sea coast, including Perim Island and al-Omari Camp by 11 September after Yemeni government forces had withdrawn from the area.[5][6] On 15 September Mohammed bin Salman traveled to Cairo to meet with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi where the two reaffirmed they would cooperate "to ensuring freedom and security of maritime navigation” in the Red Sea and Bab Al-Mandab.[7]

Offensive

[edit]

October 5

[edit]

On 5 October, officials of the PLC announced the start of Operation Dawn of Yemen, aimed at countering the recent Houthi offensive and ending Houthi control of Yemen;[8] initial objectives were stated to be the retaking of strategic positions along the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the beginning of a strategic advance towards the Houthi capital of Sanaa. Around 100 Saudi aircraft were supporting the operation, striking hundreds of Houthi targets in the opening day.[9]

The PLC claimed it recaptured much of the district of Dhubab and its airport, severed the road from Dhubab to Mokha, and have reestablished control over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait;[3] conflicting reports between the Yemeni Defense Ministry and other PLC officials over whether Mokha had been taken began to arise,[10][11] while Houthi forces denied that any gains were made.[12]

Houthi forces claimed that the PLC-held city of Taiz had been encircled, while PLC officials denied the claim.[10] Houthi forces also claimed responsibility the same day for attacks on King Khalid International Airport, Abha International Airport, King Khalid Air Base, and the Petro Rabigh Refinery.[10]

Activation of Mecca Defence Alliance

[edit]

Also on 5 October, representatives from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey, which included all three nations’ defense and foreign ministers, held an emergency meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and announced that deterrence measures under the protocol of the Mecca Defence Alliance would be implemented,[13] involving a rapid deployment of forces from all three nations to Saudi Arabia in order to counter attacks by Houthi forces on Saudi territory.

October 6

[edit]

On 6 October, PLC forces continued to report attacks against Houthi forces around the Bab al-Mandeb Strait area; strikes were reported in Marib and PLC units continued resistance against the encirclement of Taiz, advancing in the mountains of Hayfan overlooking Taiz.[14][15] The Southern Giants Brigade reportedly repelled a Houthi advance in the Dhubab district while clashes where reported in Wazi'iyah near Taiz.[16][14] Additional Houthi strikes were reported at Aden International Airport, Abha Airport, King Abdullah International and Najran Regional Airports, while Saudi forces reported the interception of a Houthi missile aimed at Khamis Mushait.[14][16]

October 7

[edit]

On 7 October, a Houthi small boat attacked a Chinese cargo ship and again struck Abha Airport killing 2 and injuring 28.[17][18] The New York Times reported that the Pakistani air-force had joined the Saudi air-force in an aerial campaign against the Houthis, which the Pakistani ministry of defense denied.[19] It was also reported on 7 October that the Syrian government studied the prospect of sending troops to assist Saudi Arabia in the Operation following pressure from the United States, however, ultimately decided against a deployment.[20][21][22]

October 8

[edit]

On 8 October, the PLC announced that they had finished "the clearing of the Bab al-Mandab Strait" and Perim island restoring government control to the highlands overlooking international shipping routes, while fighting continued near Taiz with the goal of breaking the encirclement.[23]

October 9

[edit]

On 9 October, Saudi Arabia announced its first "large scale" airstrikes, targeting over 100 Houthi military positions mostly around Saada and along the Red Sea coast.[24]

On 10 October, Yemeni sources reported that fighting in western Yemen in the past 24 hours killed 35 soldiers and 28 Houthis. They added that Yemeni forces were still advancing in the Bab al-Mandab.[25] The PLC said that they repelled Houthi offensives north of Dhubab Airport.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "'Dawn of Yemen' Offensive Intensifies Pressure on Houthis by Land and Air". Asharq Al-Awsat. 12 October 2026. Retrieved 12 October 2026.
  2. ↑ "Air campaign against Houthis under way in Yemen, says Saudi-led coalition". The Guardian. 5 October 2026. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
  3. 1 2 "Yemen's leader announces military operation to retake Houthi-held territory". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
  4. ↑ Toomey, Bridget (12 August 2026). "Fighting in Yemen escalates, raising concern of a return to civil war". FDD's Long War Journal. Archived from the original on 31 August 2026. Retrieved 7 September 2026.
  5. ↑ Ghobari, Mohammed; Abouhassira, Eman; Cartier, Catherine (11 September 2026). "Yemen's Houthis reach strategic island at mouth of vital shipping lane". Reuters. Retrieved 11 September 2026.
  6. ↑ "Houthis take control of Yemen's Red Sea coast, key shipping route". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 11 September 2026. Retrieved 11 September 2026.
  7. ↑ "Egypt's Yemen dilemma: can Suez be protected without fighting the Houthis?". amwaj.media. Retrieved 9 October 2026.
  8. ↑ "Al-Alimi Launches 'Yemen Dawn' Operation to Retake Sanaa, End Houthi Rule". Asharq al-Awsat. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
  9. ↑ "Yemeni forces reclaim Dhubab, key positions near Bab al-Mandeb from Houthis". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 5 October 2026. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
  10. 1 2 3 Ghobari, Mohammed; Azhari, Timour (5 October 2026). "Yemeni government forces drive Houthis from Bab el-Mandeb Strait". Reuters. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
  11. ↑ Meredith, Sam (6 October 2026). "Yemen forces reclaim key Red Sea port city from Iran-backed Houthis in major counteroffensive". CNBC. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
  12. ↑ "Yemeni presidential council chief announces operation to retake Sanaa from Houthis". Anadolu. 5 October 2026. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
  13. ↑ Staff, Al Jazeera. "Turkiye, Pakistan agree Saudi Arabia military deployment under Mecca pact". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
  14. 1 2 3 Minkara, Leena Fraihat,Leila. "Saudi-led coalition downs Houthi missile as Yemen fighting rages". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 6 October 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ↑ Staff, Al Jazeera. "Yemen forces claim key gains near Bab al-Mandeb: What's the latest?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
  16. 1 2 "Iran-backed Houthis claim new attacks on Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Aden airport". NBC. The Associated Press. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  17. ↑ Tawfeeq, Mohammed. "Deadly attacks by Iran-backed Houthis on Saudi airports highlight widening fallout from Yemen conflict". CNN. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  18. ↑ "Shots Fired at Chinese Containership in the Red Sea". The Maritime Executive. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  19. ↑ "Pakistan rejects New York Times report claiming air force jets being used against Yemen's Houthis". Asia News Network. Retrieved 9 October 2026.
  20. ↑ Kemal, Levent. "Syria may send token force to Saudi Arabia amid increasing US pressure". Turkey Today. Retrieved 9 October 2026.
  21. ↑ "Syria denies troops will be sent to Yemen, while expressing support for Saudi Arabia". The New Arab. Retrieved 9 October 2026.
  22. ↑ Azhari, Timour. "Syria weighs military aid for Saudi Arabia amid Yemen war, sources say". Reuters. Retrieved 9 October 2026.
  23. ↑ "Operation 'Dawn of Yemen' Clears Bab al-Mandab and its Islands of Remaining Houthi Forces". Asharq Al-Awsat. Retrieved 9 October 2026.
  24. ↑ "More than 100 Houthi military targets destroyed, Saudi-led coalition says". Le Monde. Retrieved 10 October 2026.
  25. ↑ https://www.newarab.com/news/yemen-govt-say-advancing-against-houthis-around-bab-al-mandeb. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Operation_Dawn_of_Yemen&oldid=1383020124"