Yemen's Houthi group on Sunday, 5 October 2025 claimed that Saudi Arabia had launched 106 air and missile strikes across Houthi-held areas within a single 24-hour period, as the internationally recognised Yemeni government simultaneously announced the start of a large-scale military campaign to retake territory from the group. The claims mark one of the sharpest escalations in Yemen's decade-long conflict in recent years.

Houthi Claims and Strike Figures

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in a post on social media platform X that the Saudi attacks targeted the capital Sanaa and multiple provinces including Al-Jawf and Taiz. Sarea added that the latest strikes brought the cumulative total of Saudi air and missile attacks since the current escalation began to 1,516. The figures could not be independently verified, and Saudi Arabia has not publicly confirmed carrying out the strikes described by the Houthis.

Yemen Government's 'Battle of Liberation'

Hours before the Houthi statement, Yemen's internationally recognised government formally announced what it called the 'battle of liberation' — a new phase in its campaign to reclaim Houthi-held territory across the country. The declaration signals a significant shift in posture by the government, which has framed the offensive as a comprehensive push to retake the remaining areas under Houthi control.

Houthi Advance Into At Turbah

On the ground, the situation in the southwestern province of Taiz appeared to move in the Houthis' favour. A local security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Houthi fighters had entered At Turbah — a strategically significant government-held centre in southern Taiz province — without fighting, after government forces withdrew earlier in the day.

The official said government troops and allied fighters had pulled back to mountainous positions outside At Turbah, with some retreating farther south into the neighbouring Lahj province following what were described as 'battlefield setbacks and losses.' Houthi fighters subsequently moved into the city, deploying at key locations and controlling its main entrances and exits.

Residents reported that Houthi fighters spread along major streets and around public facilities, while many merchants shut their shops ahead of the group's arrival. The Houthis also reportedly used mosque loudspeakers to urge residents not to resist.

Background: A Conflict Now in Its Eleventh Year

Yemen's war began in late 2014 when the Houthis seized Sanaa and much of northern Yemen. A Saudi-led coalition intervened in March 2015 in support of the internationally recognised government. Despite intermittent ceasefires and UN-brokered negotiations over the years, a durable resolution has remained elusive. The current escalation, marked by renewed missile, drone, and air exchanges, represents a significant deterioration in the fragile status quo that had held in recent months.

What Happens Next

With the government's 'battle of liberation' now formally declared and Houthi forces consolidating gains in Taiz, the trajectory of the conflict remains deeply uncertain. International observers and humanitarian agencies have repeatedly warned that renewed large-scale fighting risks catastrophic consequences for Yemen's civilian population, already among the most aid-dependent in the world. All eyes are now on whether the government's offensive can reverse Houthi territorial gains — or whether the escalation deepens further.