DOMINANT ANGLE
Paris doubts the scope of the offensive announced by Rachad al-Alimi: the French press contrasts a promise of reconquest with a balance of power that favors the Houthis, with Taiz under siege.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
KEY POINTS
- 01
Rachad al-Alimi announced on Sunday, October 4, the launch of military operations to retake "the territories of the Republic that remain to be reconquered" (RFI, Le Monde, France 24).
- 02
According to security sources cited by AFP, the Houthis have cut off the Taiz-Aden axis and are encircling Taiz, after taking control of the Al-Safiya sector (Le Monde).
- 03
Farea al-Muslimi (Chatham House) considers the announcement "insignificant" given the reduced air capabilities of the power; Hans Grundberg is alarmed by the cut-off roads (Sud Ouest).
ANALYSIS
Paris, October 5, 2026. On Sunday, October 4, the head of Yemen's Presidential Council, Rachad al-Alimi, announced "the launch of military operations to retake the territories of the Republic that remain to be reconquered," according to the phrase reported by RFI, Le Monde, and Sud Ouest. He called on the armed forces to carry out their missions "in accordance with approved plans," according to France 24, until the country is liberated from what he calls the "Houthi terrorist militia."
The French press places this announcement alongside the military setback of the day. Le Monde, citing AFP, reports that the pro-Iranian Houthists cut off the axis connecting Taiz to Aden, the seat of the recognized government, on Sunday, and are now encircling the city, the third most populous in the country. A local police source mentions the capture of the Al-Safiya sector, the main road, and the police station, and witnesses describe intense fighting in Al-Safiya and Al-Samsara. The newspaper speaks of a "new setback" for the government forces and their Saudi ally.
Skepticism dominates the comments of experts. Interviewed by RFI, Sébastien Boussois judges the offensive to be hardly credible. He recalls that Saudi Arabia is struggling to secure its pipeline and that the Americans do not seem determined to help the president, whom he says "does not control much." Sud Ouest quotes Farea al-Muslimi, from Chatham House, who describes the announcement as "insignificant" due to the very limited air capabilities of the government. According to him, the insurgents have achieved their goal of "isolating Taiz from Aden."
The humanitarian aspect remains present but secondary. Sud Ouest reports over 70 deaths in 24 hours. It reports the concern of UN envoy Hans Grundberg over road closures that hinder the escape of inhabitants in a sector hosting "the majority of recently displaced Yemenis." Ahmed Nagi, from the International Crisis Group, warns that the humanitarian and military situation could deteriorate very quickly.
The regional context serves as a backdrop. RFI indicates that the resumption of hostilities in July opened a new front in the war in the Middle East. The Houthists, who have controlled Sanaa since 2014, took the western coast on the Red Sea in September after a lightning offensive. France 24 recalls the capture of the strategic port of Mocha.
SOURCES (4)
- Sud OuestMEDIUM
