Houthis to announce large-scale military operation, escalating Red Sea tensions

Yemen’s Houthi forces are preparing to announce what they describe as a “large-scale and significant” military operation, with Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, the group’s military spokesperson, signaling the imminent reveal. The announcement is expected at 4 PM local time. A pattern of escalation The Houthis, formally known as Ansar Allah, are a Zaydi Shia group backed by Iran that held considerable sway in northern Yemen since ousting the internationally recognized government in a coup during 2014–2015, triggering a Saudi-led military intervention. A UN-mediated ceasefire was largely effective until mid-2026, when violence resumed with increasing frequency. In early August 2026, the group referenced plans for a “wide and qualitative military operation” following attacks on military targets in Marib. On September 4, 2026, Houthi forces launched a major assault in western Taiz and the Hayis district of Hodeida, deploying heavy weapons, drones, and ground troops in a coordinated push. By September 10, they had seized the strategic Red Sea port city of Mokha. That strait connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Roughly 12% of global trade passes through it on any given day. By mid-September ...