DOMINANT ANGLE
Ankara views the offensive announced by Riyadh as a military turning point: Bab al-Mandab lost, Aramco targeted, Taiz disputed, the war is changing scale.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
KEY POINTS
- 01
Rachad al-Alimi announced on October 4 from Riyadh military operations to retake the remaining territories from the Houthis, who have held Sanaa for over ten years (BBC Türkçe).
- 02
The Houthis claim to have targeted Aramco facilities in retaliation for 50 coalition strikes in 12 hours; the coalition deems these claims "misleading" (BBC Türkçe, Daily Sabah).
- 03
Last month, the Houthis took a strategic coastline along the Bab al-Mandab Strait and announced a naval blockade of Saudi ships in the Red Sea (Daily Sabah).
ANALYSIS
Ankara, October 5, 2026. The internationally recognized Yemeni government has declared total war on the Houthis, according to BBC Türkçe. From Riyadh, the President of the Presidential Council, Rashad al-Alimi, announced on October 4, in a address to the nation, the start of military operations "to retake the remaining territories of the Republic and extend the authority of the state to the entire national territory".
The Turkish-speaking channel of the BBC reports this announcement after a series of cross-attacks between the Houthi militiamen, supported by Iran, and the coalition led by Saudi Arabia. The Houthis claim to have struck Aramco facilities in response to 50 coalition strikes in 12 hours. Riyadh had not yet reacted at this stage. The text recalls that the Houthis have held Sanaa for over ten years and that they seized a strategic coastal section last month, including the Bab al-Mandab Strait: a response from the government was therefore expected. Security sources note that the Houthis, although constantly targeted by the coalition, continue to make gains.
Daily Sabah emphasizes the Saudi aspect. The coalition's spokesman, General Turki al-Maliki, deemed the Houthi claims of an attack on Riyadh "misleading" after AFP reports of flames and smoke at an oil site near the Saudi capital. He stated that the Houthis are "chasing imaginary victories" and are struggling in Taiz, the third city of the country, largely held by government forces. The Saudi authorities have not commented.
The newspaper recalls that the fighting resumed in July after several years of calm. The government, based in Aden, controls most of the south and east, a larger but less populated region, while the Houthis hold the northwest, including Sanaa. The Houthi lightning offensive last month targeted the strategic Bab al-Mandab coast. The rebels also struck Saudi territory, notably the Yanbu oil terminal on the Red Sea, according to their own claims, and announced a naval blockade targeting Saudi ships in the Red Sea.
The two titles therefore deal with the file through its military and energy dimension: front lines, oil facilities, maritime strait. Civilians and UN mediation efforts do not occupy a visible place in the provided excerpts.
