Yemen Launches Strikes on Sanaa Following Houthi Attack
Yemen’s Military said on Friday its air defense system shot down a Houthi drone over the interim capital, Aden, while government forces targeted Houthi positions in the cities of Sanaa, Saada and Taiz amid escalating fighting across the country.
The army spokesperson Majed al-Nuzaili said government air defences intercepted and brought down Houthi suicide drones over Aden “before they reached their targets in civilian areas and neighborhoods.”
He said the incident was the first such attack reported in Aden since August 24.
Al-Nuzaili also said on X that government forces had struck what he described as “high-value targets” in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, without providing further details about the targets or the weapons used. He added that forces had targeted 11 “high-value targets” in Saada province, a Houthi stronghold in northern Yemen. He did not specify the weapons used in those strikes.
He also added, “The raids achieved direct hits on enemy targets and inflicted losses on the militia’s elements, equipment, and military movements.”
The claims could not be independently verified, and no further details were immediately available on the extent of damage or casualties from the reported operations.
The latest attacks came after Yemeni government forces said their warplanes had carried out 20 strikes in Taiz province within three hours. The military said the strikes targeted Houthi movements, reinforcements, personnel, vehicles and military equipment.
Fighting Intensifies Across Yemen
Fighting intensified in September, with the Houthis taking control of several key areas in the provinces of Al-Hudaydah and Taiz, including the strategically important city of Mocha. Their advance also brought them closer to Mayyun Island, which lies near the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait, a major maritime route linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
Yemen has remained embroiled in conflict since the Houthis seized Sanaa and expanded their control across several provinces in 2014. The following year, Saudi Arabia led an Arab coalition into the conflict to support Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
Also Read:
Saudi Transformation Opens New Opportunities for Portugal, Envoy Says
Saudi Arabia Provides Assistance to 174 Flydubai Passengers After Emergency Landing
