A man walks inside a damaged sponge factory in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026 | File Image The war in Yemen has entered a new and potentially decisive phase, with the internationally recognised government launching a major military offensive to wrest control of the country's capital, Sanaa, from the Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The offensive aims to reverse the gains made by the Houthis during their lightning offensive last month, which has heightened tensions along the Red Sea corridor, raising fresh concerns over the security of the vital waterway and opening a major flashpoint in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia-led coalition forces deployed 100 fighter jets and struck 324 high-value Houthi targets, as government forces pushed towards the strategically vital Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The offensive came just after the rebels said they had captured more territory in the southwestern part of Yemen. President Rashad al-Alimi has announced the start of "Dawn of Yemen", declaring that the operation would seek to restore state institutions, "liberate" the capital Sanaa and end Houthi control. A military spokesperson also called on the Houthis to lay down their weapons. Saudi-led coalition's spokesperson, Saudi Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki, said 100 fighter jets are providing support to forces of Yemen's internationally recognised government fighting against the Houthis. He said the coalition has secured "air protection" of the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait and destroyed hundreds of Houthi targets as part of their ongoing campaign. The government forces have taken large parts of Dhubab district, which overlooks Bab el-Mandeb, and are asserting full control over the area with heavy air support, Reuters reported citing three military sources and one government source. Houthi-aligned media had earlier denied that government forces had made advances in the area. With Gulf energy exports already restricted by Iran's closure of the Hormuz Strait, the fighting in Yemen has threatened another major oil export route, pushing up global prices and raising new risks in a region already aflame. The escalation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis has revived Yemen's civil war after a four-year ceasefire. The Houthis, known formally as Ansar Allah, have held Yemen's capital Sanaa and vast parts of the northwest. Notably, most of the population in Yemen lives in these areas. The Houthis have held the regions since 2014. Last month, the Houthis launched a surprise offensive amid the ongoing US-Iran war and captured the Bab el-Mandeb strait and some 150 km (90 miles) of coast on the Red Sea in a matter of weeks. They also announced a blockade on Saudi shipping in the Red Sea and attacked several Saudi-linked vessels. Apoorva Shukla is a journalist at Times Now, where she thrives on dissecting political developments both at home and abroad. A graduate of Delhi Univ... View More