Yemen’s Houthi rebels have reported that Saudi Arabia launched 26 strikes against territories under their control within the last 24 hours. This development follows a period of intensifying hostilities, with the group claiming that total Saudi strikes on Houthi-held zones have reached approximately 300 over the past week alone, impacting various strategic positions.
The Saudi-backed Yemeni government reported its own military success on Friday, stating that its forces neutralized 30 Houthi rebels and injured over 60 others during combat in the al-Wazi’iyah district of Taiz province. This area has emerged as a significant front in the widening conflict, which has claimed the lives of at least five people, including three children, in recent days.
The regional situation remains volatile, with Saudi Arabia reporting one fatality in the Taif governorate following the interception of a Houthi drone. Meanwhile, Houthi-linked media outlets have attributed civilian deaths to recent Saudi airstrikes in both Taiz and the town of Abs. In response to the rising tensions, tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in Sanaa on Friday to voice support for the Iran-backed Houthis.
The surge in violence coincides with Houthi territorial gains along Yemen’s Red Sea coastline, including the vital Bab al-Mandeb Strait. These movements have prompted diplomatic engagement, with US officials meeting Houthi representatives in Muscat, Oman, over the weekend to address risks to international shipping. Reports suggest the rebels provided assurances that vessels unconnected to Saudi interests would not be targeted.
Despite persistent appeals from Riyadh for direct US military intervention against the Houthis, Washington has maintained a cautious stance, aiming to avoid opening a new conflict front. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas confirmed on Friday that the bloc’s naval mission, Operation Aspides, has heightened its alert level in response to the deteriorating environment.
During a communication with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Kallas emphasized the urgent need for diplomatic solutions to end the hostilities and restore maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. She explicitly stated, “Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia are unacceptable and sabotage the global economy.” The report also notes that as the two sides continue trading attacks amid an escalating war in Yemen, according to the AFP news agency, yemen’s Houthi rebels have said Saudi Arabia carried out 26 strikes against areas under the group’s control in the past 24 hours. The report also notes that the exchange has come on the heels of a widening escalation of fighting in Yemen between the government’s military and the Houthi fighters. The report also notes that though reluctantly, the escalation has drawn in Washington.
