Yemen’s war has intensified, with government forces reporting significant gains against the Iran‑backed Houthi movement. According to Majed Abdullah al‑Nuzaili, a spokesman for the internationally recognised Yemeni government, a series of coordinated attacks across six governorates—Lahij, Taiz, Marib, al‑Jawf, Hajjah and al‑Bayda—resulted in the death or injury of at least 190 Houthi fighters. The campaign included 29 air strikes, 39 drone attacks, 62 rockets and 744 artillery barrages, according to the official statement.
Al‑Nuzaili added that up to 130 Houthi vehicles and combat assets were damaged or destroyed. While Al Jazeera could not independently verify these figures, the claims align with the broader pattern of escalating hostilities in the region.
The fighting is part of the Saudi‑backed government’s counteroffensive, dubbed Operation Dawn of Yemen, which aims to reclaim territory seized by the Houthis in September. The Saudi‑led coalition has provided air support, and the Houthis have retaliated with missile strikes targeting Saudi airports and oil facilities.
In response, Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree announced that government forces had suffered “a large number” of casualties in attacks on al‑Madaribah and Ras al‑Ara in Lahij, and that dozens of soldiers were killed and wounded in al‑Jawf. Saree also accused the coalition of launching 109 air and missile strikes on the rebel‑controlled capital, Sanaa, and other Houthi positions, claiming these attacks killed and wounded many women and children.
Separately, the Saudi‑led coalition reported intercepting two Houthi missiles aimed at Riyadh and one targeting the southern region of the kingdom. The Houthis, meanwhile, claimed to have targeted Riyadh and an Aramco oil facility in Abqaiq.
According to the World Health Organization, the conflict has already claimed 1,771 lives and wounded 7,959 people since August, displacing more than 300,000 civilians. The latest exchanges of fire underscore the continued volatility of Yemen’s civil war and its wider regional implications.
Source: Al Jazeera
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Editorial note: This is an original news report prepared from the attributed source material with AI assistance. It is not a reproduction or translation of the original article.
