Aden (South24 Center)

Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council chairman, Rashad Al-Alimi, announced on Sunday (October 4) the start of military operations to retake Houthi-held territory and restore state authority nationwide, amid Houthi advances in Taiz and renewed claims by the group of attacks inside Saudi Arabia.

In a televised address from his residence in Riyadh, Al-Alimi said the decision followed National Defence Council resolutions and the completion of preparations. He instructed the armed forces, security services and military formations to implement approved plans and placed state institutions on full alert, without identifying participating units, operational axes or a timetable.

The announcement came as field sources reported Houthi gains threatening the main road linking Taiz and Aden. Local sources told South24 Center that the Houthis seized Al-Safiyah on Sunday, cutting movement along the road.

A circulating video showed Houthi fighters inside the home of Yemeni Parliament Speaker Sultan Al-Barakani in the Nahr Al-Barakani area of Taiz. A local source told South24 Center that Houthi forces were only a few kilometres from Al-Alimi’s home in the Al-A’loom area.

Government military spokesman Majed Al-Nuzaili had earlier announced 71 targeting operations against Houthi concentrations and reinforcements in Taiz.

In two military statements issued roughly an hour apart, the Houthis claimed missile and drone attacks on Saudi Aramco facilities in Riyadh and Khurais and said they had repelled an attempted advance by Saudi-backed forces in eastern Al-Jawf.

The group described the attacks on oil facilities as retaliation for what it said were 50 Saudi air and missile strikes over the preceding 12 hours across six Yemeni governorates. It threatened further attacks on Saudi military positions and oil infrastructure.

In Al-Jawf, the group said it had destroyed vehicles, inflicted casualties and targeted retreating forces with ballistic missiles and drones.

The developments followed reports of Saudi preparations for a coastal offensive around Bab Al-Mandeb or coordinated attacks on several fronts. Reuters, citing regional and Western officials, reported that Yemeni ground forces would receive Saudi air support and that more than 100,000 troops could be mobilized, depending on the operation’s scale.

Reuters also reported that Pakistan sent four cargo aircraft to Aden in September carrying air-defence systems, light artillery, drones and counter-drone equipment.

Al-Alimi also renewed his commitment to civilian protection, safe return and amnesty for fighters who leave Houthi ranks, and instructed forces to prevent reprisals and protect property.

He promised a parallel programme to resume salary payments, restore services, repair infrastructure in recovered areas and facilitate the return of displaced families.

Al-Alimi said the leadership remained committed to the outcome of Saudi-sponsored Southern dialogue, while the Southern Transitional Council separately called for mass gatherings on October 14 for general mobilization to defend South Yemen and its national project.

The announcements come amid mounting humanitarian concerns. UN envoy Hans Grundberg warned on October 1 that intensified fighting in Taiz was causing casualties, damaging infrastructure and restricting civilian movement.