Aden, September 5 (Daily Kiran) : Yemen has conducted airstrikes on Houthi positions near the strategically important Bab al-Mandeb Strait, resulting in at least 90 fatalities. According to a military official, Yemeni fighter jets targeted Houthi-held areas in the western provinces of Hodeidah and Taiz. These strikes were aimed at supporting ground forces that were facing a significant offensive from Houthi factions in the region.
The airstrikes occurred on Friday amidst intense fighting across multiple fronts in these provinces. Houthi fighters had made rapid advances over the previous 24 hours, prompting the need for aerial support. The official noted that the airstrikes specifically targeted Houthi positions and their activities in areas where ground combat was ongoing. However, no immediate details regarding further casualties or damage were available.
A source from the Houthi military confirmed the attacks but claimed they were carried out by “Saudi aggressive fighter jets.” As of now, Saudi Arabia has not issued any comments regarding the situation.
With the conflict escalating, Rashad al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), vowed that government forces would prevent Houthi fighters from advancing toward the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. This waterway is a critical route linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
Officials reported that this latest round of airstrikes, which began Thursday morning, has claimed the lives of at least 90 individuals, including 40 government soldiers and around 50 Houthi fighters. Military sources indicated that both sides have sent additional troops, armored vehicles, and equipment to these fronts on Friday.
This attack marks one of the most severe ground battles in western Yemen in recent years, raising concerns about the resurgence of large-scale fighting after years of relative calm across various fronts in the country. Yemen has been embroiled in conflict since late 2014, when Houthi rebels seized control of the capital, Sana’a, and large parts of northern Yemen. The following year, a Saudi-led coalition intervened in support of the internationally recognized Yemeni government.
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