58 Strikes in 24 Hours: Houthis and Saudi Arabia Enter New Round of Escalation in Yemen
The Houthis and Saudi Arabia have entered a new round of escalation in Yemen, with the group saying its positions were hit by dozens of airstrikes over 24 hours. Fighting has also continued along the western coast and around Taiz following recent Houthi advances toward the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said Saudi Arabia carried out 58 airstrikes on the group’s positions over the past 24 hours. The number of strikes reported by the Houthis could not be independently verified.
Houthis Say 58 Strikes Carried Out in 24 Hours
The announcement followed several days of escalating clashes between the Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces. Houthi-run media reported Saudi strikes on Saada in northern Yemen and other areas, while fighting continued along the western coast and around Taiz.
Military sources affiliated with the Yemeni government, meanwhile, said strikes targeted Houthi positions, personnel and equipment around Mokha and Dhubab. Government forces also said they were trying to retake positions lost during the recent offensive.
Bab al-Mandab, Houthis and Saudi Arabia
The escalation follows the Houthi advance toward Bab al-Mandab along Yemen’s Red Sea coast. Reports said Houthi fighters reached Mayun Island, also known as Perim, which lies in the strait between Yemen and the Horn of Africa.
Bab al-Mandab connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean and serves as a route for trade and energy shipments between Asia and Europe. The Houthis have said navigation remains safe for vessels not targeted by the group.
Fighting Coincides With Pressure on Energy Routes
The fighting in Yemen comes amid disruptions affecting regional energy routes. Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline was previously hit in a drone attack, prompting a temporary shutdown.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman asked U.S. President Donald Trump for American military support against the Houthis, according to sources who spoke to Reuters. Trump later said he had spoken with the crown prince. Washington told Riyadh it would not intervene directly militarily for now but was prepared to provide intelligence support, Reuters reported.
Tens of Thousands Displaced as Fighting Continues
The latest fighting has also displaced tens of thousands of people from conflict areas in western Yemen, according to U.N. estimates in recent days, particularly from areas in Taiz and Hodeidah provinces.
Clashes continue as Yemen’s western coast and the Bab al-Mandab area remain active fronts, alongside airstrikes and military operations across several parts of the country.
Sources
- Reuters – Houthi advance and Bab al-Mandab
- Reuters – Fighting in Yemen
- AFP / NDTV – Houthis report 58 strikes
