Saudi Arabia Launches Operation Dawn of Yemen to Recapture Coast
Saudi Arabia and a global coalition launched a military offensive to seize the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and Mocha from Iran-backed Houthi forces.
The Government of Saudi Arabia launched Operation Dawn of Yemen to recapture strategic territory along the Red Sea coast and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait from Iran-backed Houthi forces. The offensive follows Houthi territorial gains in September, including the capture of the port city of Mocha, and a July strike on Sanaa airport.
To support the operation, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Türkiye activated the collective-defense provisions of the Makkah Alliance for Defense on October 6, 2026, appointing retired Pakistani Lieutenant General Nauman Mahmood as the alliance's first secretary-general. While Saudi Arabia leads combat operations with support from the UK and France, Pakistan and Türkiye are providing reconnaissance and military capabilities. A broader coalition including the United States and the United Arab Emirates is also involved to defend the principle of innocent passage for commercial vessels.
The conflict has escalated amid a wider geopolitical struggle, following Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz during its war with the United States. The instability in these two critical sea-lanes, which handle over 25 percent of seaborne petroleum, has pushed Brent crude prices above $101 a barrel. The United Nations Security Council previously demanded on September 18 that the Houthis uphold navigational rights and freedoms.
