Yemen Declared War on the Houthis. Can It Win?

What the PLC's new offensive faces on the ground, in the region, and in Washington.

On Sunday, PLC Chairman Rashad al-Alimi announced the start of military operations to retake all Houthi-held territory. The announcement came hours after the Houthis cut the main road between Taiz and Aden, effectively encircling the city, and less than a month after they seized Mocha and the Bab al-Mandeb islands. Here is what the declaration means, and what it is up against.

President of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, Dr. Rashad al-Alimi. In a statement on X, he said: "In the name of Allah and the Yemeni people, and pursuant to the decisions of the National Defense Council, we announce today the launch of military operations to restore the remaining territory of the Republic and extend state authority nationwide."