Escalating Conflict: Houthis Claim Saudi Arabia Launched 26 Airstrikes in 24 Hours

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have reported that Saudi Arabia carried out 26 airstrikes against areas under the group’s control within a 24-hour period, according to the AFP news agency, as both sides continue exchanging attacks amid a deepening conflict.

On Friday, the group stated that Saudi strikes on Houthi-held territory had reached 300 over the past week, targeting various positions across their controlled regions. Meanwhile, Yemen’s government, supported by Saudi Arabia, announced that its forces had killed 30 Houthi rebels and wounded over 60 in clashes within the al-Wazi’iyah district of Taiz province, marking one of several active frontlines.

This surge in violence follows a broader escalation between government military forces and Houthi fighters. In Sanaa, tens of thousands participated in Friday demonstrations supporting the Iran-backed Houthis and protesting Saudi Arabia, as the rebels maintain territorial gains along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, including the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

Earlier in the week, intensifying clashes resulted in at least five deaths, including three children. Saudi Arabia reported one fatality in the Taif governorate following a downed Houthi drone, while Houthi-affiliated media reported casualties from Saudi strikes in Taiz and the town of Abs.

The deteriorating situation has drawn cautious involvement from Washington. US officials held meetings with Houthi representatives at the US embassy in Muscat, Oman, following territorial advances that raised global shipping concerns regarding the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The Houthis reportedly assured US officials that non-Saudi-linked vessels would remain safe. Despite pressure from Riyadh for US President Donald Trump to take direct military action, Washington has refrained from intervening to avoid opening a new conflict front.

Additionally, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced that the bloc's Red Sea naval mission, Operation Aspides, has elevated its alert status. Stressing that Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia threaten the global economy, Kallas noted discussions with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud regarding diplomatic initiatives to resolve the conflict and secure navigation routes.