Fear and uncertainty for civilians as Yemen’s capital comes under attack

What the report says

Sanaa, Yemen, is again facing intensive air strikes after Yemen’s internationally recognised government announced a new campaign, Operation Dawn of Yemen, aimed at retaking the capital from the Houthis. Al Jazeera reported on 11 October 2026 that the attacks have resumed in a city that had been largely spared bombing after a 2023 truce. Government forces are still far from Sanaa and are fighting on other fronts, including Yemen’s west coast and around Taiz, so the campaign has so far relied mainly on air power.

The reporting describes growing civilian concern after strikes hit areas in and around the capital. One strike in the Sa’wan area killed a child and wounded several civilians, and earlier attacks included an assault on Sanaa’s airport that killed two workers. Residents interviewed by Al Jazeera said the renewed bombing has reduced their sense of safety, raised fears of displacement and revived memories of the Saudi-led coalition’s 2015 air campaign, which caused heavy civilian losses.

The article also notes broader humanitarian risks. More than 200,000 people have reportedly been displaced in recent weeks amid intensifying fighting elsewhere in Yemen, and households in Sanaa are stocking up on food and fuel in expectation of shortages and rising prices. A local analyst cited by Al Jazeera questioned whether the government has the capacity to seize the capital, while residents expressed doubt that the offensive will succeed soon.

The broader context is Yemen’s long-running war between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed, internationally recognised government. Al Jazeera’s report suggests the new offensive could deepen civilian hardship and worsen an already severe food crisis, though the full military and political outcome remains uncertain.