Yemeni government forces launch air strikes on Houthi targets

Yemeni government forces say they have launched air strikes against Houthi positions across the country as the Iran-aligned group claims to have shot down three Saudi drones in the past 24 hours.

The military said its warplanes struck Houthi positions in al-Barah, south of Hodeidah, and on the western outskirts of Marib. It also reported attacks on sites and gatherings in al-Lubnat, al-Alam and the centre of al-Jawf governorate, claiming the raids caused heavy losses in lives and equipment. The claims could not be independently verified in the supplied report.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said fighters brought down a Saudi CH-4 armed reconnaissance drone over al-Jawf province while it was carrying out what he called “hostile activities.” He later said a Saudi-owned Wing Loong II armed reconnaissance drone was shot down in al-Bayda governorate. Saudi Arabia had not immediately commented on the claims.

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The armed forces’ warplanes carried out raids targeting Houthi militia positions in al-Barah, south of Hodeidah and in the western outskirts of Marib. They also targeted sites and gatherings of the militia in al-Lubnat, al-Alam and al-Jawf governorate centre, and inflicted heavy loss of life and equipment on the militia.

The latest exchanges follow a series of government air strikes on Friday, launched as Houthi forces tried to advance through western Taiz and southern Hodeidah toward al-Makha, also known as Mocha, and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The Houthis declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia in July and have attacked Saudi shipping in the strait.

The two sides are fighting over the strategic waterway, which the report describes as a vital route for Saudi oil exports after Iran blockaded the Strait of Hormuz in response to the US-Israel war on Iran launched in February.

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hostile activities