ADEN – Yemen’s internationally recognised government forces have carried out more than 1,100 operations against Houthi positions, claiming that 1,747 members of the group were neutralised during the campaign.
Yemeni military spokesman Majed Abdullah al-Nuzaili said the operations were conducted across the northern provinces of Saada and Al-Jawf, Taiz in the southwest, and areas along the country’s western coastline.
According to the military, the campaign focused on Houthi artillery and rocket positions, defensive installations, military routes, supply networks and troop concentrations. Command posts and facilities used to coordinate military operations were also targeted.
Al-Nuzaili said the offensive involved aircraft, drones, artillery, missiles, rocket systems and sniper units. He added that 364 military vehicles and other equipment used for transportation and logistics had either been destroyed or put out of service.
The spokesman said government forces would continue their offensive until they regain territory and restore the authority of state institutions.
The announcement followed an order by Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi for a broad military campaign aimed at recovering areas still controlled by the Houthis. The government has described the offensive as part of an effort to restore state authority across Yemen.
Yemen has remained divided by conflict since the Houthis seized Sanaa and large parts of the country in 2014. A Saudi-led coalition intervened the following year to support the internationally recognised government.
The latest escalation has also raised concerns over shipping security in waters surrounding Yemen.
Iran oil minister resigns as Hamid Bovard takes over temporarily
Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad has stepped down from his post as President Masoud Pezeshkian appointed National Iranian Oil Company chief Hamid Bovard as acting oil minister.
Mehdi Tabatabaei, a senior communications official in the president’s office, said Pezeshkian had accepted Paknejad’s resignation and approved Bovard’s appointment.
State media reported that Paknejad resigned for personal reasons and had sought to leave the position earlier. He had served as oil minister since August 2024.
Bovard, who previously headed the state-owned National Iranian Oil Company, will now oversee the ministry at a time when Iran’s energy sector is under severe pressure from international sanctions and disruptions linked to the regional conflict.
The change in leadership comes as Iran faces growing difficulties in exporting crude and maintaining energy supplies amid the ongoing confrontation with the United States.
Saudi-led coalition backs Yemen government offensive
The Saudi-led coalition has pledged to maintain its support for Yemen’s internationally recognised government and armed forces as they seek to regain territory held by the Houthis.
Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said Saudi Arabia and its allies would continue backing efforts to restore Yemen’s state institutions and counter the Houthi threat.
Al-Maliki accused the Houthis of imposing restrictions on civilians, forcing residents from their homes, diverting resources to military purposes and recruiting children. He also blamed the group for attacks targeting Saudi territory and commercial shipping in the Red Sea and around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
He said the coalition regarded attacks on maritime traffic as a wider threat to regional security and international trade.
The spokesman said Saudi Arabia retained the right to protect its territory and take military measures against threats posed by the Houthis.
The pledge came after Al-Alimi announced a comprehensive military campaign to recover remaining Houthi-held territory. Yemeni authorities have described the offensive as a campaign to restore government control and state institutions.
Tanker reports explosions off Yemen, crew remains safe
A tanker reported several explosions in its vicinity while sailing off Yemen’s coast, prompting a security warning from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
The incident was reported approximately 60 nautical miles south of the port of Mokha, according to UKMTO.
The vessel’s company security officer said multiple blasts were observed close to the tanker. The crew was reported to be safe and authorities found no immediate evidence of environmental damage.
UKMTO said an investigation was underway but did not identify the vessel or determine the cause of the explosions.
Ships operating in the area were advised to remain cautious and report any suspicious activity as security concerns continue to affect commercial traffic near Yemen and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
