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The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen issued a statement detailing its ongoing support for the legitimate Yemeni government as government forces press an offensive against Houthi positions across multiple fronts. According to the coalition’s official spokesman Major General Turki Al-Malki, the operations aim to counter what the statement described as the militia’s terrorist attacks, internal blockades and forced displacement of civilians. The announcement underscores the coalition’s commitment to restoring Yemen’s national institutions while protecting regional stability.
Major General Turki Al-Malki stated that the Houthi militia’s actions include looting resources to fund their war effort, recruiting child soldiers and tearing at the social fabric of Yemeni society. The coalition has responded with measures to safeguard both Yemeni and Saudi security, including operations to deter threats to maritime navigation in the Red Sea and Bab Al-Mandab Strait. A Saudi Press Agency release distributed the full text of the statement outlining these positions.
The coalition first intervened in Yemen in 2015 at the request of the internationally recognised government following the Houthi takeover of Sanaa, according to records from the Saudi Press Agency. Since then it has conducted extensive operations in support of government forces while participating in UN-led peace initiatives. The latest statement reaffirms that support will persist until the militia’s threat is eliminated and the state is restored.
United Nations data has placed the cumulative death toll from the conflict at well over 377,000 by the end of 2021, with millions more displaced and facing acute humanitarian needs. The World Food Programme has repeatedly warned of famine risks in areas affected by the fighting and blockades. Coalition statements have consistently framed their actions as necessary to alleviate the suffering inflicted by the militia’s control.
Attacks by the Houthi militia on civilian infrastructure and attempts to target neighboring countries have continued despite periods of relative calm, the coalition statement noted. These include documented strikes on airports, power stations and oil facilities in both Yemen and Saudi Arabia. The coalition has vowed to take all measures required to protect civilians and maintain freedom of navigation vital to international trade.
Yemeni government advances in provinces such as Marib and Shabwa have relied on coalition air support and intelligence sharing, according to previous operational updates from the Saudi Press Agency. The current offensive forms part of a broader effort to reclaim territory and institutions seized in the 2014-2015 Houthi expansion. International partners including the United Nations have called for renewed political dialogue to complement military pressure on the ground.
The statement concluded by emphasising the Kingdom’s inherent right to defend its sovereignty and support Yemen’s territorial integrity against external interference. Coalition partners have maintained that their engagement aligns with international humanitarian law while addressing threats that extend beyond Yemen’s borders.
