Ankara: Yemen's Houthi group claimed Friday that its forces had taken control of six districts in the western provinces of Taiz and Al-Hudaydah, covering a total area of 5,400 square kilometers, during a military operation launched on Sept. 3.

According to Anadolu Agency, the claim was made in a video statement by the group's military spokesman, Yahya Saree. Saree stated that the Houthis initiated a large-scale military operation from several directions to drive out forces opposed to the group from parts of Yemen's western coast. The operation reportedly resulted in the 'expulsion' of those forces from the specified districts, which were not named but were claimed to be 'safe and stable.'

Saree further claimed that Houthi forces targeted seven military divisions comprising 38 brigades, resulting in the killing, wounding, and capturing of hundreds of their members. He also asserted that the operation led to the release of a number of Houthi prisoners who had been held on the western coast for years.

The spokesman mentioned that Houthi forces conducted 32 operations against warplanes and shot down nine aircraft. On the issue of maritime navigation, Saree stated that it remains safe for all companies except Saudi vessels, reaffirming the group's stance on Saudi involvement.

The forces confronted in the six districts were described as 'Saudi,' a label the Houthis have increasingly used for Yemeni government forces. However, Saudi Arabia denies having ground forces in Yemen, maintaining that its role is limited to supporting the internationally recognized government and securing its borders.

There has been no immediate comment from Saudi Arabia or Yemeni government forces regarding the Houthi claims. The western coast is strategically significant due to its proximity to the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandab Strait, a vital international maritime route. Recent territorial shifts in Yemen have heightened tensions as confrontations between government forces and the Houthis intensified since early July, following years of relative calm.