Yemen’s month‑long offensive shifts to attrition war
A month after the government launched Operation Dawn of Yemen, fighting has become a grinding attrition, with territorial gains on both sides but mounting Houthi losses and continued attacks on Saudi Arabia.
At a glance
- Operation Dawn of Yemen began on October 5, aiming to retake all Houthi‑held territories, including Sanaa.
- The Yemeni government says 16,100 Houthis have been killed or wounded since the offensive started, while the Houthis continue missile and drone attacks into Saudi Arabia.
- Experts say the offensive has shattered the Houthis’ three‑pillar strategy—fuel/supply lines, Bab al‑Mandeb maritime routes, and tribal support—shifting the war into a prolonged attrition.
Sanaa, Yemen – On October 5 the internationally recognised Yemeni government announced Operation Dawn of Yemen, a major offensive to retake Houthi‑held territories, including the capital. Residents like 40‑year‑old Mohammed Ahmed feared the impact on Yemen’s most densely populated city, but after a month Sanaa remains largely calm apart from recurring air strikes.
Meanwhile, the Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, have made territorial advances in southern provinces such as Taiz and Lahij, where fighting persists. Experts say the operation has shifted the conflict into a war of attrition.
**Houthis’ three‑pillar strategy under pressure**
Turki al‑Goblan of the Saudi Daimumah Center said the Houthis’ survival relied on fuel and supply lines, maritime routes around the Bab al‑Mandeb strait, and tribal support around Sanaa. The Dawn of Yemen offensive has “dealt a blow to the three pillars of this strategy,” he said, targeting fuel systems, coastal supply outlets, and tribal mobilisation.
Abdulsalam Mohammed of the Yemeni Abaad Studies and Research Center noted that many Houthi field commanders and hundreds of fighters have been killed in air strikes, especially in Taiz and on the western coast. While territorial gains continue, they may be short‑lived if government airpower and ground forces keep coordinated attacks.
**Casualties and regional dimensions**
The Yemeni government reported killing or wounding 1,540 Houthis in a single 24‑hour period last month and a total of 16,100 since October 5. Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree said coalition attacks, including air strikes, have reached 3,939 since the latest escalation. The Houthis have also fired missiles and drones into Saudi Arabia, hitting airports and disrupting air traffic.
Yazeed al‑Jeddawy of the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies said the conflict is increasingly a prolonged attrition, intertwined with the wider regional confrontation involving Iran, which backs the Houthis, and Saudi Arabia, which seeks to curb their capabilities and protect vital maritime routes.
**Government advances and political resolve**
Government forces reclaimed the Dhubab district in Taiz governorate and key positions near Bab al‑Mandeb. They also recaptured military positions east of al‑Hazm in al‑Jawf governorate. The Presidential Leadership Council reaffirmed its commitment to ending the Houthi “coup,” restoring state institutions, and extending authority over the entire territory.
Colonel Wadah al‑Dubaish, spokesperson for the Joint Forces on Yemen’s West Coast, said the Houthis’ recent expansion has come at a steep cost, with losses over the past month exceeding those of previous years combined.
**Missile capability and external support**
Recent Houthi missile attacks, including one that killed at least 70 security recruits in Shabwah, show the group retains a resilient missile capability. Al‑Jeddawy stressed that the scale and precision of these strikes point to extensive external support, while Al‑Goblan argued the attacks may be an attempt to compensate for declining ground maneuverability and maintain political cohesion.
Source: Al Jazeera.
Questions and answers
- What is Operation Dawn of Yemen?
- It is a major offensive launched by Yemen’s internationally recognised government on October 5 to retake territories held by Houthi fighters, including the capital Sanaa.
- How many Houthi fighters have been killed or wounded since the offensive began?
- The Yemeni government reports 16,100 Houthi operatives and commanders killed or wounded since October 5, including 1,540 in a single 24‑hour period last month.
- Why are the Houthis still launching missile attacks on Saudi Arabia?
- Analysts say the attacks aim to compensate for declining ground maneuverability, maintain political cohesion, and demonstrate continued capability despite heavy losses.
