Yemeni Rebels Report Heavy Saudi Air Strikes Following Vowed Retaliation

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have accused Saudi Arabia of launching dozens of air attacks across Yemen overnight. This follows a promise from the Saudi-led coalition to respond "firmly" to missile and drone attacks by the Iran-aligned Houthis that wounded 13 civilians across three cities in the kingdom.

The Saudi-led coalition, which backs Yemen’s internationally recognised government, stated on Tuesday that Houthi attacks on Khamis Mushait, Abha and Taif caused minor to moderate injuries and damaged seven homes and two vehicles. Major-General Turki al-Maliki, spokesperson for the coalition, stated that the Joint Forces Command would deal with these attacks responsibly and firmly to protect the kingdom's sovereignty.

Later on Tuesday, the Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, reported that Saudi Arabia launched 54 air raids across the governorates of Lahj, Taiz, al-Jawf, Marib and Hajjah overnight. The group claimed that Saudi air strikes hit the government complex in Khadir district, Taiz governorate, causing injuries. Houthi-aligned media reported that the attacks killed three civilians, including two children, and injured at least two others in Dhubab and Maqbanah districts in Taiz province. Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs have not publicly commented on these claims.

The escalation follows a statement on Monday by the Iran-aligned group declaring it had fired dozens of missiles and drones at King Khalid airbase in Khamis Mushait, targeting hangars, radar systems, runways and ammunition depots in retaliation for Saudi air raids. The Houthis stated that Saudi warplanes had previously carried out 300 air raids across Yemen over a five-day period.

These exchanges follow recent rapid ground advances by the Houthis in western Yemen, where they gained control over much of the Red Sea coast and advanced near the Bab al-Mandeb strait. Meanwhile, forces of Yemen’s internationally recognised government reported advances in Taiz province and strikes on Houthi fighters and equipment in Dhubab and al-Khokha on the Red Sea coast. Officials from both sides also confirmed that the Houthis had recently seized the Greater and Lesser Hanish islands and Mayyun Island in the southern Red Sea.

Yemen's long-running conflict intensified in July after the Houthis declared a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia and began attacking ships in the Red Sea, threatening the 2022 United Nations-brokered ceasefire.