Yemen’s internationally recognised government has launched a military operation to retake territory held by the Iran-backed Houthi group and restore state authority across the country, Presidential Leadership Council head Rashad al-Alimi said.

Axar.az reports, citing Al-Jazeera, that al-Alimi said government forces had been ordered to begin operations under an approved plan “until the country is liberated from the Houthis.”

“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,” al-Alimi said.

He added that all state institutions would remain on full alert “until the mission is completed and victory is achieved.”

The announcement follows claims by Yemen’s government forces that they carried out 257 precision strikes against Houthi positions and military capabilities on Saturday, killing at least 700 fighters. The Saudi-led coalition also reported 97 operations against Houthi reinforcements earlier Sunday.

Fighting has intensified since a fragile 2022 truce collapsed in July, while the Houthis seized the port city of Mocha and strategic islands in the Bab al-Mandeb strait in September.