Damascus: Yemeni government forces reported on Saturday that they had executed drone strikes targeting Houthi positions in the southwestern province of Al-Dhale. This action marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict within the region.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Nation's Shield Forces released a statement confirming that the strikes were conducted with precision using drones, although specific details regarding the locations of the attacks were not disclosed. The forces also shared video footage depicting an aerial assault on a group of Houthi members. The Houthi group has not yet responded to the statement.

Recent developments in Yemen have seen a shift in territorial control, with increased confrontations between government forces and the Houthis since early July. The Houthis claim full control over the western Al-Hudaydah province after making advances in the western Taiz province and seizing the coastal city of Mokha along with its Red Sea port. This advancement brings the Houthis closer to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical global maritime route.

On the other hand, Yemeni government forces have reportedly made progress in the northern Al-Jawf province, nearing the provincial capital, Al-Hazm. Clashes continue in several provinces, including Marib, Al-Bayda, and Al-Dhale.

Yemen's conflict began in earnest in September 2014 when the Houthis took control of the capital, Sanaa, along with several other provinces. The situation intensified when a Saudi-led Arab coalition intervened in March 2015 to support the internationally recognized Yemeni government.