Yemen gov’t forces launch air strikes on Houthi targets

Yemeni administration forces say they have carried out air strikes on Houthi positions nationwide as the Iran-aligned group claims it shot down a number of Saudi drones.

Key points

• Yahya Saree, the Houthis' military spokesperson, remarked on Monday that Houthi fighters shot down three Saudi drones previously 24 hours.
• The Houthis declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia in July and have carried out attacks on Saudi shipping in the Bab al-Mandeb strait.
• The armed forces' warplanes carried out raids targeting Houthi militia positions in al-Barah, south of Hodeidah and in the western outskirts of Marib.
• Saree remarked the group's forces shot down a Saudi CH-4 armed reconnaissance drone over al-Jawf province as it was carrying out "hostile activities".

"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 additionally 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 military stated in an official note late on Sunday.

Yahya Saree, the Houthis' military spokesperson, remarked on Monday that Houthi fighters shot down three Saudi drones previously 24 hours. There was no immediate comment from Saudi Arabia on the claims.

Saree remarked the group's forces shot down a Saudi CH-4 armed reconnaissance drone over al-Jawf province as it was carrying out "hostile activities". He afterwards went on that a Saudi-owned Wing Loong II armed reconnaissance drone was shot down in al-Bayda governorate.

For context, the Houthis declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia in July and have carried out attacks on Saudi shipping in the Bab al-Mandeb strait.

In practice, the Houthis and administration forces have been fighting over control of the critical waterway that has become a vital route for Saudi oil exports since Iran blockaded the Strait of Hormuz in response to the US-Israel war on Iran rolled out in February.

As the Houthis attempted to advance through western Taiz and southern Hodeidah towards al-Makha (Mocha) and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, on Friday, Yemen's internationally recognised administration rolled out a series of air strikes against a number of Houthi positions in the country.

Taken together, the developments around yemen gov't forces launch air strikes on Houthi targets point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.