Yemen’s leader announces military operation to retake Houthi-held territory

⁠The ⁠Saudi Arabia-backed head of ⁠Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, ⁠Rashad al-Alimi, has announced the start of military operations to retake the ⁠remaining territory held by ⁠the Iran-backed Houthi armed group ⁠and restore ⁠state ⁠authority across the country. In a televised address, al-Alimi said on Sunday the internationally recognised government’s forces would extend “the authority of the state and its institutions over the entire national territory”. “We have instructed the armed forces, security forces and all military formations to begin carrying out their assigned tasks under an approved plan until the country is liberated from the Houthis,” he said.