Continuing story · 1 report

Saudi-backed offensive to retake Houthi-held areas

First aired Latest aired

Gone quiet since

Where it stands

On 4–5 October 2026, Yemen's internationally recognised, Saudi-backed government announced a military campaign to retake all territory held by the Houthis. The Houthis claimed missile and drone strikes on Saudi targets, and key claims on all sides remain unverified. No territorial changes, casualty figures or ceasefire have been reported yet.

Explore with HeyDex

Follow via RSS

Story trackerDay 3

1 report48 outlets41 sources2 videos

  1. Update 1More Than 70 Dead in a Day Around Taiz as Yemen's Government Opens Its Offensive

The story so far

  1. Update 1

    More Than 70 Dead in a Day Around Taiz as Yemen's Government Opens Its Offensive

    Yemen's Saudi-backed government says it will retake every Houthi-held area. The Houthis claim strikes on Aramco that Riyadh's coalition calls misleading. Almost every claim is unverified, and Brent sits near $102.

    What moved

    • Government announces its drive to retake all Houthi-held territory; the Houthis claim strikes on Aramco sites in Riyadh and Khurais.
    • Yemeni officials claim Dhubab and positions on the strait, ahead of a Saudi–Pakistani–Turkish meeting in Riyadh.

    Still open after this report

    • The cause of the Riyadh fire, any damage at Khurais, and whether the Saudi government or Aramco will say anything on damage.
    • Whether the claimed gains around Dhubab and the strait are real or will last, and what the offensive has cost in lives.
    • Whether the 70-plus Taiz toll and the encirclement are confirmed beyond sources cited by AFP.

History

  1. Opened1 report

Who's involved

People

  • Emmanuel MacronPresident of France and Co-Prince of Andorra since 20171 report
  • Rashad al-AlimiChairman of the Presidential Leadership Council of Yemen since 20221 report
  • Turki Al-MalikiSaudi Arabian major-general (born 1974)1 report
  • Yahya Sareespokesperson for the Houthis, a paramilitary organization linked to the Yemeni Armed Forces in the Middle East1 report

Organizations

  • Giants BrigadesYemeni government militia in the Yemeni Civil War1 report
  • HouthisYemeni Islamist organization1 report
  • National Shield ForcesYemeni military forces loyal to the President of the Republic1 report
  • Presidential Leadership CouncilYemen's executive body1 report
  • Saudi AramcoSaudi Arabian state-owned petroleum company1 report

Places

  • Bab al-Mandab StraitBab al-Mandab Strait1 report
  • DhubabDhubab, Yemen1 report
  • Khurais - Aramco Airport36557, Saudi Arabia1 report
  • RiyadhRiyadh Saudi Arabia1 report
  • SanaaSanaa, Yemen1 report
  • TaizzTaizz, Yemen1 report

Every outlet we read on this story

41 sources37 outlets2 videos1 wire copy

Who reported what

12 points5 confirmed by two or more outlets1 from a single outlet4 disputed

What 16 outlets reported about this story, point by point, and who reported each point first.

Where accounts conflict

Bloomberg Television says
Yemen's Saudi-backed military launched a full-scale operation to recapture areas controlled by Iran-backed Houthis.
SBS News says
Yemen's government says it has begun a military campaign to expel Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.
BBC News says
The Houthis are pushing inland toward Taiz.
The Guardian says
The Saudi-led coalition said a broad air campaign involving 100 jets, Operation Dawn of Yemen, was under way against the Houthis.
The Telegraph says
Yemen's internationally recognized government launched a major military operation, 'Dawn of Yemen', to retake Houthi-held territory.
CNN says
The chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council announced the start of military operations to retake the remaining territory from the Houthis.
Channel 4 News says
President Rashad announced the launch of Operation Yemen Dawn.
Fox News says
Yemen's Saudi-backed government announced an all-out war against the Houthis to retake lost territory.
CTV News says
The Yemeni government announced an offensive to recapture territory.
FRANCE 24 English says
Yemen's government said on Monday it had taken back the Red Sea port of Mocha from the Houthis.
DW News says
Pakistan and Turkey said they are willing to deploy troops to Saudi Arabia under their mutual defense agreement with Saudi Arabia.
ABC News (Australia) says
Donald Trump said he was weighing whether the United States would join Saudi Arabia in attacks against the Houthis.
DW News says
The Houthis seized Yemen’s Red Sea coast and the Bab al-Mandab Strait the previous month, according to the transcript.
BBC News says
The Houthis recently captured Mokha and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Fox News says
The Houthis took control of the Bab el-Mandeb strait, which Keane says is as strategically significant as the Strait of Hormuz.
Reuters says
The Houthis seized the strait last month, shaking energy markets.
ABC News (Australia) says
Saudi Arabia vowed to respond and retaliate firmly to what it considers a war crime.
Fox News says
The presenter said Houthi rebels launched a missile attack that hit Saudi Arabia’s international airport in Riyadh.
The Guardian says
Yahya Saree said Mecca and Medina were excepted, while other Saudi airports and airspace were exposed to targeting.
FRANCE 24 English says
The Houthis did not announce any fresh strikes on the airport on Saturday.

Points more than one outlet reported

Each column is an outlet, in the order they first reported. Select a mark to read that outlet's wording.

  • Reported it first
  • Reported it
  • Repeated another outlet
  • Did not report it
PointDW NewsThe GuardianBloomberg TelevisionSBS NewsBBC NewsThe TelegraphCNNChannel 4 NewsFox NewsCTV NewsReutersFRANCE 24 EnglishABC News (Australia)euronewsAssociated Press via The HillArab NewsOutlets
Yemeni government military operationAccounts conflict12
The Houthis recently captured Mokha and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.Accounts conflict5
Missile attributed to the HouthisAccounts conflict2
Deaths in the Riyadh airport attackIndependently confirmed9
People injured in the Riyadh airport attackIndependently confirmed9
The Houthis launched ballistic missiles and drones at Saudi oil facilities over the weekend, claimi…Independently confirmed9
Deaths in the earlier airport attacksIndependently confirmed8
Missile attack on Riyadh airportNot independently confirmed7
Donald Trump said the United States might join strikes on the Houthis.Not independently confirmed7
Control of the Bab el-Mandeb StraitIndependently confirmed6
Later reports of 13 or 14 deathsNot independently confirmed5

Points only one outlet reported

Only reported by FRANCE 24 English

Each line is the claim as we recorded it from that outlet's report. Compared as of .

Related coverage

  1. BackgroundTwo Saudi officers killed in Najran helicopter crash; cause unresolved
  2. Follow-upEgypt pledges Saudi defence support—but a military mandate remains unverified
  3. Same eventTrump Halts Most New Russia Sanctions Before Promised Diesel Relief Is Proven
  4. Follow-upSaudi strikes hit Yemen oil depots as airport attacks put civilians at risk
  5. BackgroundTrump vows to protect LA and San Diego after remarks prompt threat monitoring
  6. Same eventYemen’s fighting uproots 200,000 as airports come under attack
  7. Follow-upG7 pledges reserve release after U.S. threatens allies' diesel supply
  8. BackgroundTwo drones headed toward Riyadh. A hit in the city is not verified
  9. BackgroundHouthi Barrage Hits Saudi Oil Sites, 73 Wounded; Riyadh Vows Retaliation