Saudi Arabia has intensified air support for Yemeni government forces in a major counteroffensive launched October 4-5, 2026, under Operation Dawn of Yemen, targeting Houthi positions around the Bab al-Mandab Strait after the rebels seized Mokha and advanced in September. The Saudi-led coalition conducted hundreds of airstrikes, destroying weapons sites and providing air cover, while Yemeni ground units advanced in areas like Dhubab. Houthi missile and drone strikes have hit Saudi airports and oil facilities in retaliation, prompting defensive measures involving U.S. intelligence support and coordination with Turkey and Pakistan. This escalation follows years of Saudi efforts to reduce direct ground commitments after the prior intervention, with current operations relying primarily on proxies, airstrikes, and external backing rather than large-scale troop deployments inside Yemen. Upcoming developments hinge on whether ground advances require expanded Saudi forces or if diplomacy and proxy efforts stabilize the front.