Yemen’s Government Forces Vow to Capture Sanaa Amid Intensifying Frontlines
Government troops backed by Saudi Arabia promise to take the capital as clashes with Houthi fighters continue across the country, Al Jazeera reports.
Intense fighting erupted across Yemen on Saturday as forces loyal to the internationally recognised government announced a renewed push to capture the capital, Sanaa. The offensive, supported by Saudi Arabia, comes after weeks of back‑and‑forth skirmishes that have left major towns and highways contested, Al Jazeera reported.
According to the live‑blog, Houthi militias entrenched around the outskirts of Sanaa responded with artillery fire and drone strikes, targeting advancing government convoys. Both sides exchanged heavy fire in the valleys north of the city, causing civilian evacuations and disrupting humanitarian corridors. The government spokesperson, speaking to Al Jazeera, said the operation aims to “liberate the capital and restore legitimate authority,” while acknowledging the high risk of civilian casualties.
The renewed assault follows a fragile cease‑fire brokered in early 2025 that quickly unraveled after mutual accusations of violations. Since then, the conflict has settled into a pattern of localized offensives, with each side seeking to control strategic supply routes that link the Red Sea ports to the interior. Saudi Arabia’s coalition has supplied the government with air support and advanced weaponry, while the Houthis continue to rely on Iranian‑provided missiles and domestically produced drones.
The war, which began in 2014 when the Houthi movement seized Sanaa and forced President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi into exile, has devastated Yemen’s infrastructure and pushed more than 20 million people into humanitarian need. United Nations agencies warn that renewed fighting around the capital could exacerbate food insecurity and impede aid deliveries already hampered by blockades and damaged roads. The conflict’s regional dimension also means that any escalation in Sanaa risks drawing in neighboring states, potentially widening an already complex proxy war.
International observers have called for renewed diplomatic engagement, urging both parties to return to the Stockholm peace talks that have stalled since late 2025. Meanwhile, aid groups are scrambling to secure safe passages for relief convoys, hoping to prevent further civilian suffering as the battle for Sanaa intensifies.
This report is based on original reporting by Al Jazeera. Read the original source →