Al-Alimi Launches ‘Yemen Dawn’ Operation to Retake Sanaa, End Houthi Rule

Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi announced on Monday the launch of a military operation dubbed Yemen Dawn aimed at restoring state institutions, retaking the capital Sanaa and ending the Iran-backed Houthi militia’s control. In a post on X, al-Alimi said the operation would advance with the support of Yemen’s armed forces and military formations, as well as backing from allies and partners. He said Yemen was moving toward a new era of freedom, peace and stability. The announcement came hours after the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen said it was providing full operational support to Yemeni forces and would continue backing the government until state institutions were restored and the Houthi militia’s threat to freedom of maritime navigation was ended. On Sunday, al-Alimi had said that the government had turned to military action after exhausting peace efforts, while stressing that the campaign was not aimed at civilians and that authorities would protect civilians and property and reject retaliation.