Yemeni government official says Sanaa remains a military target as Saudi-backed forces prepare for possible advance and focus on Hodeidah, Saada and western coast

Yemen’s Deputy Defense Minister Maj. Gen. Samir al-Sabri said Sanaa remains a “direct military target” for the internationally recognized government, signaling that Saudi-backed forces could eventually advance toward the Houthi-held capital once surrounding areas are secured and the timing for an offensive is decided. He said Hodeidah, Saada, Yemen’s western coast and control of the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait are also among the government forces’ military priorities.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Sabri said capturing areas surrounding Sanaa would be a key step before any move on the capital. He described control of Bab al-Mandeb and the western coast as particularly important because of their strategic significance and their connection to regional and international affairs.

Sanaa has been under Houthi control since 2014, while the group also controls most of Yemen’s populous northwest, including Hodeidah and its stronghold of Saada. The internationally recognized government is based largely in Aden and is backed by Saudi Arabia and other regional partners.

The front lines in Yemen’s civil war have remained relatively stable since a U.N.-brokered truce took effect in 2022, despite the agreement formally expiring later that year. The latest comments come amid renewed fighting between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, raising the possibility that long-dormant ground fronts inside Yemen could become active again.