Sanaa, September 17 (Daily Kiran) : The Houthi group in Yemen has reported that Saudi Arabian fighter jets conducted 40 airstrikes across three Yemeni provinces in the past 24 hours. This claim was made by Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree on Wednesday via the social media platform X.
According to Saree, the F-15 fighter jets took off from the Khamis Mushait airbase in southwestern Saudi Arabia, targeting the southwestern province of Taiz, the northeastern province of Marib, and the northwestern province of Hajjah. As of now, Saudi officials have not commented on these allegations, and there is no immediate information regarding any casualties or damage from the purported attacks.
This announcement comes amidst an uptick in cross-border assaults. Earlier on Wednesday, the Houthis claimed they launched “dozens of ballistic missiles and drones” at Saudi Aramco facilities in the western city of Yanbu. They also asserted that they targeted the Khamis Mushait airbase with several ballistic missiles.
Saree stated that the assault on Yanbu resulted in significant fires and substantial damage, claiming that the missiles aimed at Khamis Mushait hit their targets accurately. However, Saudi officials and Aramco have not responded to these claims.
On the same day, the Houthis also asserted that they shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet over the northeastern Marib province using a locally developed surface-to-air missile. Saudi Arabia has yet to respond to this assertion as well.
Since the beginning of September, the conflict in Yemen has intensified, with an increase in airstrikes and renewed ground fighting between Houthi forces and government troops. A Yemeni military official reported that fierce clashes continued in the mountainous region of Kahboob in southern Lahij province, which is strategically located above the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The official noted that five soldiers supporting the government and ten Houthi fighters were killed in the conflict, with many others injured on both sides.
In recent days, the Houthis have seized several key areas along Yemen’s Red Sea coast. They gained control of the strategic port city of Mocha on September 10 and captured Mayyun Island, located in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, on September 11. This strait is a vital maritime route connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
The ongoing conflict in Yemen began in late 2014 when the Houthis took control of the capital, Sanaa, and large parts of northern Yemen. In March 2015, a Saudi-led coalition intervened militarily in support of the internationally recognized Yemeni government.
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