Yemen President Sacks Ministers After Failed Counteroffensive

President Rashad al-Alimi of the UN-recognised government of Yemen dismissed several ministers and military officers on November 5 following a failed counteroffensive launched on October 5. The leadership shake-up comes as Houthi forces advance to within 37 miles of Aden and maintain a four-week siege of Taiz.

As part of an effort to appease southern Yemeni demands and address the north-south divide, al-Alimi replaced Information Minister Muammar al-Eryani with Professor Salem al-Awlaki, a former spokesperson for the Southern Transitional Council. In the military sector, al-Alimi removed Yusuf al-Sharaji and Abu Bakr al-Jabouli, appointing Major General Rashad al-Yousfi to coordinate forces and lift the siege of Taiz.

The government remains heavily dependent on Saudi Arabia for financial support and air superiority. Despite these resources, internal tensions persist between government-aligned forces, including the Homeland Shield Forces and the Southern Giants.