Sanaa

Saudi air and ballistic missile attacks on several Yemeni provinces have intensified in what is being described as the largest escalation in years. The escalation came after Rashad al-Alimi, chairman of the so-called Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council, announced in a televised address yesterday, Sunday, October 4, 2026, the start of “comprehensive military operations” to retake the remaining territories of the republic and extend state authority across the entire country, as he described it.

He confirmed the transition from the stage of preparation to “liberation” after “all opportunities for de-escalation had been exhausted.”

The Saudi Ministry of Defense announced the launch of what it called “Operation Dawn of Yemen,” aimed at supporting Yemeni government forces on the ground and securing international navigation in the region.

Coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Maliki said the operation involves 100 fighter aircraft conducting continuous airstrikes around the clock. He said the strikes had destroyed 324 targets described by the coalition as “high-value” Houthi targets, adding that the Saudi Air Force is providing full air protection over the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

On the ground, Saudi-backed Yemeni forces announced that they had carried out 1,122 targeting operations against Houthi positions and movements across several fronts, alongside an announcement that they had taken control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Taiz Governorate also witnessed fierce fighting, with Yemeni armed forces advancing and taking control of the Al-Safiyah area and the city of Al-Turbah, resulting in the closure of the main road linking Taiz and Aden.

Signs of Pakistani Involvement

In a highly significant development that could broaden the scope of the conflict, Pakistani sources said that Operation Dawn of Yemen began with the participation of Pakistan and other members of the Mecca Alliance.

The sources reported that a GLF4 VIP aircraft belonging to either the Pakistani government or Air Force landed in Riyadh approximately one hour before the operation began.

Intelligence assessments have also suggested the presence of Pakistani forces in Saudi Arabia under the countries’ mutual defense agreement. Their reported missions include air and missile defense, radar and early warning, reconnaissance, counter-drone operations, and electronic warfare.

The objective, according to these assessments, is to free Saudi forces to concentrate on offensive operations against Ansar Allah, without Pakistani forces directly participating in ground operations inside Yemeni territory.

Reports have also indicated the arrival of arms-laden flights in Aden, reportedly carrying air-defense systems, light artillery, drones, and counter-drone systems.

Civilian Massacres

On the humanitarian front, medical sources reported that student Atheer al-Amiri was killed and two other female students were wounded in two airstrikes carried out by Saudi aircraft on the Bayt al-Luhayda area in Sawan, Bani Hashish District, Sanaa Governorate.

A woman was also killed in an airstrike targeting a farm in the Bayt al-Shatibi area of Sanhan District, Sanaa Governorate, while a number of sheep were also killed.

The attacks have prompted condemnation from human-rights groups.