Yemeni government forces, backed by Saudi-led coalition airstrikes, launched Operation Dawn of Yemen in early October 2026 to reverse Houthi territorial gains along the Red Sea coast and advance toward Sanaa. The Houthis seized key coastal areas including Mocha and positions near Bab al-Mandeb in September, prompting intensified fighting in Taiz governorate and government claims of retaking some ground with air support striking hundreds of targets. Sanaa has remained under Houthi control since 2014, with government operations there limited to reported strikes on infrastructure such as the airport rather than ground advances into the city proper. Significant barriers include Houthi defensive depth in northern and central governorates like Marib and al-Jawf, ongoing cross-border exchanges, and the scale of forces required for a sustained push into the capital municipality. Upcoming developments hinge on whether the counteroffensive expands beyond coastal and Taiz fronts or stalls amid high casualties and displacement.