Houthi Militia Reportedly Planning Major Offensive on Yemen’s Western Coast

The Houthi militia is reportedly preparing for a multi-axis offensive along Yemen's Western Coast, supported by military experts from Iran, Lebanon, and Iraq, in an effort to regain lost territory and counter recent setbacks in the Taiz and Hodeidah fronts.

According to field sources cited by Sheba Intelligence, the planned operation aims to integrate ground maneuvers with coordinated strikes from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and ballistic missiles. The strategy seeks to alleviate military pressure on Houthi forces by launching a broad offensive from southern Hodeidah, specifically targeting the city of Hays and linking operations to the Maqbana front in Taiz province.

The reported plan involves launching simultaneous attacks from Jabal Ras and Wadi al-Mareer toward Hays, utilizing waves of fighters to exhaust government defensive lines. Intelligence suggests that the militia is also eyeing the strategic town of Khokha, as well as maneuvering to threaten supply routes in the Tuhayta district. Secondary fronts, including al-Jabaliya, al-Faza, and al-Jah, are expected to serve as diversionary points for missile and drone strikes intended to stretch government resources and prevent the deployment of reinforcements to primary engagement zones.

These developments follow a recent failed Houthi incursion into the Wazi'iyah district west of Taiz, which sought to advance toward the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Government forces and the Joint Forces successfully repelled that attack, forcing the militia to regroup. The current operational strategy appears designed to both stabilize the Houthi presence in the Western Coast and create conditions for a renewed push toward the critical maritime corridor that connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.

While the reports highlight significant external involvement in the planning and logistical support of the militia, the timeline for the potential offensive remains uncertain. Analysts note that the efficacy of the operation will likely depend on the militia's ability to coordinate massed ground movements with their missile and drone capabilities, as well as the intensity of the counter-air response from opposing forces.