Sanaa: Drones were seen flying over Yemen's capital Sanaa on Friday as the Houthi group fired anti-aircraft weapons to shoot them down, Yemeni residents told Anadolu.

According to Anadolu Agency, residents reported spotting drones over several neighborhoods, including Saawan and Al-Hasaba in the northeast of the city. The anti-aircraft fire by the Houthi forces resulted in explosions, causing fear among the local population.

Yemen's independent Belqees news website corroborated these accounts, reporting that explosions, air defense fire, and gunshots were heard early Friday in Sanaa. Residents expressed concern over the continuous sounds of explosions and gunfire, with the reasons for the incident remaining undisclosed. Houthi-affiliated media outlets and social media accounts indicated that the group's air defense systems were activated in response to the drones flying over the city.

The Houthis have not yet commented on the incident, and the identity of the drones and their origin remains unknown. This incident occurs amidst renewed military tensions in Yemen since July, marking the most significant escalation in years following a relative period of calm after an April 2022 truce.

Yemen has been embroiled in conflict since the Houthis took control of the capital Sanaa and several provinces in September 2014, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene in March 2015 in support of Yemen's internationally recognized government.