Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces launched Operation Dawn of Yemen in early October 2026, advancing into northern and southern sectors of Marib Governorate and capturing strategic heights and districts such as areas near Al-Majzar and Medghal amid intensified clashes with Houthi fighters. Saudi-led coalition aircraft have supplied close air support, artillery coordination, and strikes on Houthi positions and reinforcements, consistent with the coalition’s established pattern of providing operational backing without large-scale direct ground commitments. No independently verified reports confirm Saudi troops operating inside Marib Governorate itself as of mid-October. Trader pricing on near-term deadlines reflects this reliance on proxy forces and air power, with potential shifts tied to further escalation, stalled advances, or explicit coalition ground deployments before year-end resolution windows.