The Houthis released a video showing drone attacks on Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces, intensifying the 12-year conflict as fighting spreads across multiple fronts.
Houthis Release Video of Drone Attacks
The Houthis released a video showing drone strikes on Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces, according to Aljazeera. The footage, shared on social media, coincides with increased fighting between the Iran-aligned group and coalition-backed forces.
Attack on Aden Airport and Saudi Coalition Response
The Houthis attacked Aden International Airport with ballistic missiles and explosive-laden drones, according to Yemen’s Transport Ministry. A missile landed near the runway, forcing the cancellation of a flight from Cairo and diverting aircraft to Jeddah. The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Houthi ballistic missile north of Riyadh and claimed to have destroyed a launch platform in Sanaa. The Houthis’ military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, alleged they targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh with drones, though Saudi authorities did not confirm the attack.
The Saudi-led coalition reported intercepting and destroying a Houthi ballistic missile aimed at the southwestern Saudi city of Khamis Mushait, as per Saudi state television. In another statement, Saree claimed the Houthis targeted Abha International Airport and an airbase in Khamis Mushait using ballistic missiles and drones. The Houthis, which dominate much of northern Yemen, captured the capital Sanaa in 2014, leading to the formation of a military coalition under Saudi Arabia’s leadership, driven by concerns over Iranian influence in Yemen and instability along its borders.
The conflict, which began in 2014 when the Houthis seized Sanaa, has led to a humanitarian crisis. A 2022 UN-brokered truce halted major fighting but failed to resolve the underlying tensions. The Saudi-led coalition accuses Iran of arming the Houthis, a claim Tehran denies.
Yemeni Forces Target Houthi Positions with Precision Strikes
Yemeni government forces, supported by the Saudi-led coalition, conducted “precision” drone strikes on Houthi positions in Al Dhale province, according to Aaj. The Nation’s Shield Forces released footage of an aerial attack on Houthi gatherings, though details of the strikes remained unclear. The assaults followed recent attacks on Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline, which the Saudi Ministry of Energy shut down as a precaution.
The Houthis assert that they have taken full control of the western region of Al Hudaydah province following their advances into western Taiz, including the capture of the coastal city of Mokha and its Red Sea port. These advances have placed the group near the Bab El Mandeb Strait, a critical maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
Conflict Escalates, Affecting Regional Stability
Fighting has intensified since July, with the Houthis capturing key areas in Al Hudaydah and Taiz provinces. Government forces have made gains in northern Al Jawf and near the Saudi border. The conflict has reshaped territorial control, with the Houthis now holding the western part of Al Hudaydah and approaching the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The group, composed of mountain fighters that have grown into a force of tens of thousands equipped with missiles and drones posing a regional threat, denies affiliation with Iran’s Middle East proxy network and asserts that it independently develops its weaponry. The latest attacks highlight the fragile state of the conflict, with both sides exchanging claims of military successes. The Houthis' video release and the Saudi coalition's intercepts highlight the ongoing aerial warfare, while the targeting of infrastructure like the oil pipeline poses a threat to regional stability.
Ahmed Ibrahim World Editor