Yemeni Forces and Houthis Trade Strikes in Escalating Conflict

Military engagements between Yemeni government forces and Houthi rebels escalated significantly across several provinces on Tuesday, marked by widespread artillery bombardments, air strikes, and cross-border missile launches. The intensified fighting occurs amid broader regional tensions in the Middle East involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.

A spokesman for the internationally recognised government forces, Majed Abdullah al-Nuzail, stated that military operations targeted rebel positions in the provinces of Lahij, Taiz, Marib, al-Jawf, Hajjah, and al-Bayda. According to al-Nuzail, the government push—conducted as part of a counteroffensive launched to retake territory lost in September under the name Operation Dawn of Yemen—resulted in approximately 190 Houthi fighters killed or wounded. He added that government forces executed 29 air strikes, 39 drone attacks, 62 rocket launches, and 744 artillery strikes, destroying or damaging up to 130 rebel military vehicles.

Houthi representatives reported casualties among government troops in the Al-Madaribah and Ras al-Ara areas of Lahij governorate, as well as in Al Jawf. Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree claimed that Saudi-backed forces conducted 109 air strikes and missile attacks against rebel-controlled Sanaa and several surrounding governorates, resulting in casualties among women and children. Saree also stated that Houthi forces launched missiles targeting the Saudi capital of Riyadh and an Aramco oil facility located in Abqaiq in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province.

The Saudi-led coalition supporting the Yemeni government confirmed the interception of two missiles aimed at Riyadh and a third targeting the kingdom's southern region. The coalition did not issue an immediate statement regarding the reported air strikes on Sanaa.

Data from the World Health Organization indicates that the conflict in Yemen has resulted in at least 1,771 deaths and 7,959 injuries since August. The organization reported that more than 300,000 individuals have been displaced from their homes during the same period.

Written by Andreas Hofer andreas.hofer@alpineweekly.com