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Yemeni Forces Strike Houthi Targets in Saada
Confirmed
In Short: The Yemeni Armed Forces conducted airstrikes against Houthi targets in Saada, aiming to weaken the Iran-backed group.
The Yemeni Armed Forces said on Sunday they carried out airstrikes against Houthi targets in the northern province of Saada, as part of a wider campaign against the Iran-backed group.
Majed Al-Nazili, a spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces, reported that the forces conducted 97 precision operations targeting Houthi military reinforcements in the Tur Al-Baha front and Taiz axis.
According to Al-Nazili, these operations killed or neutralized 260 Houthi fighters and destroyed or disabled 44 military vehicles and supply and transport vehicles.
The military also said earlier this week that it conducted a “high-value targeting operation” in Sanaa and struck 11 targets in Saada.
Yemen's Houthi-run Al Masirah TV reported earlier an attack it said was carried out by Saudi Arabia on Sanaa.
Hostilities resumed this year after the Houthis declared a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in July and began attacking Saudi territory and shipping, while Houthi forces also made major territorial gains along Yemen's Red Sea coast.
The conflict between the Iran-backed Houthis and forces aligned with the Saudi-backed government mostly stopped after a 2022 truce, but fighting has broken out again in a spillover from the wider war between Iran and the United States.
Saudi Arabia has responded with air strikes in Yemen and backed government forces fighting to repel the Houthis.
The conflict intensified on Wednesday after the Houthis claimed to have shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet over Marib province in Yemen.
The spokesman also dismissed Saudi claims that the Houthis had targeted the holy city of Mecca this week.
Saudi Arabia is planning an offensive against Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis to reverse their seizure of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, with Turkish drones and Pakistani military equipment already in use in Yemen.
The operation, expected in the coming weeks, would be led by Yemeni ground forces overseen by Riyadh and backed by Saudi airstrikes.
What's confirmed
- The Yemeni Armed Forces said on Sunday they carried out airstrikes against Houthi targets in the northern province of Saada, as part of a wider campaign against the Iran-backed group.
- Majed Al-Nazili, a spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces, reported that the forces conducted 97 precision operations targeting Houthi military reinforcements in the Tur Al-Baha front and Taiz axis.
- According to Al-Nazili, these operations killed or neutralized 260 Houthi fighters and destroyed or disabled 44 military vehicles and supply and transport vehicles.
- The military also said earlier this week that it conducted a “high-value targeting operation” in Sanaa and struck 11 targets in Saada.
- Yemen's Houthi-run Al Masirah TV reported earlier an attack it said was carried out by Saudi Arabia on Sanaa.
- Hostilities resumed this year after the Houthis declared a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in July and began attacking Saudi territory and shipping, while Houthi forces also made major territorial gains along Yemen's Red Sea coast.
- The conflict between the Iran-backed Houthis and forces aligned with the Saudi-backed government mostly stopped after a 2022 truce, but fighting has broken out again in a spillover from the wider war between Iran and the United States.
- Saudi Arabia has responded with air strikes in Yemen and backed government forces fighting to repel the Houthis.
- The conflict intensified on Wednesday after the Houthis claimed to have shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet over Marib province in Yemen.
- The spokesman also dismissed Saudi claims that the Houthis had targeted the holy city of Mecca this week.
- Saudi Arabia is planning an offensive against Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis to reverse their seizure of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, with Turkish drones and Pakistani military equipment already in use in Yemen.
- The operation, expected in the coming weeks, would be led by Yemeni ground forces overseen by Riyadh and backed by Saudi airstrikes.
What's still developing
- A spokesperson for Yemen's armed forces, which are aligned with the internationally recognised government, said forces were targeting what he described as "vital targets", without providing further details.
- Houthis claimed a locally made munition was used to target the warplane, according to the news agency AFP.
- He said the jet had been targeted "using a locally made air-to-air missile".
- "Our operations target its oil facilities and military bases, which are far removed from the sacred sites," he said.
- This comes hours after Saudi air defences intercepted and destroyed a drone launched by Yemen's Houthis in the south of the holy city of Makkah Al-Mukarramah, popularly known as Mecca, prompting the Saudi-led coalition to issue a strong warning that the security of Islam's two holiest sites is a "red line".
- Coalition spokesman Major General Turki Al-Malki described the incident as a "hostile and terrorist act", saying the drone had been launched by what he called the "Terrorist Houthi Militia".
- "The security of the Two Holy Mosques and the pilgrims is a red line," Al-Malki said, adding that the Joint Forces Command of the Coalition "will not hesitate to take the necessary and deterrent measures" against the Houthi movement.
- "At least more than six countries are keen to join the Mecca, which is defensive in nature," Dar said.
- He said the kingdom "will not hesitate to respond firmly to any threat or attack aimed at undermining our security."