Sanaa: Military escalation between Yemeni government forces and the Houthi group continued in several provinces in recent hours Thursday, without decisive changes on the ground. The sides exchanged attacks near the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait on the Red Sea, while government forces reported shooting down an explosive-laden Houthi drone in the southwestern Al-Dhalea province. A government military commander and several soldiers were also reported killed in the central Marib province.
According to Anadolu Agency, the Houthis reported Saudi airstrikes targeting telecommunications towers in southwestern Taiz province, with no immediate comment from Riyadh. The developments coincided with continued calm on the front in northern Al-Jawf province, where Anadolu's monitoring observed no new field developments.
In the latest developments, the government-aligned Giants Brigades said Thursday that they targeted Houthi positions and gatherings on the Kahbub front near Bab el-Mandeb. The attack reportedly resulted in casualties among Houthi fighters. In a separate statement, the forces claimed to have targeted a Houthi patrol on high ground overlooking the Kahbub area, resulting in further fatalities.
The Yemeni army-affiliated September Net website reported late Wednesday that government forces shot down a drone belonging to the 'Iran-backed Houthi militia' on the Murais front in northern Al-Dhalea province. The drone was allegedly conducting reconnaissance and carrying explosives when it was detected and neutralized. This marked the second thwarted drone attempt in the area within a few days.
The Yemeni army announced the burial of Col. Ezzeddin Hamoud Hussein al-Zalil, commander of the 8th Missions Battalion of the 13th Infantry Brigade, and several other soldiers in Marib. They were killed during engagements with Houthi forces, though specific details on the circumstances were not provided.
The Houthi group claimed that Saudi airstrikes targeted telecommunications towers in Taiz province, citing strikes in the Al-Dhikra, Al-Hawban areas of Al-Taiziyah district, and Al-Rahida area of Khadir district. The report did not mention casualties or damage, and Saudi Arabia has not issued any response.
Yemen's territorial dynamics have shifted recently, with the Houthis advancing along the western coast and claiming control over strategic locations in Hudaydah and Taiz, including Mokha city and Red Sea islands like Mayyun Island. Government forces, on the other hand, have been progressing in Al-Jawf towards Al-Hazm, amidst ongoing fighting in Marib, Al-Dhalea, and Taiz.
The escalation, which began in early July, marks the most extensive conflict since a truce in April 2022. The situation intensified further in September, particularly along the western coast and near Bab el-Mandeb. Yemen has faced turmoil since the Houthis took control of Sanaa and other areas in September 2014, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene in March 2015 in support of Yemen's internationally recognized government.