700 Targeting Operations Reported as Yemen Conflict Escalates
Yemeni authorities claim hundreds of strikes neutralized 300 fighters in Taiz while Houthi missiles hit Saudi cities and Aden.
By Carmen Wojcik ·
The Yemeni army claims to have conducted over 700 targeting operations in the last day, a sharp increase in activity as the war in Yemen intensifies. Colonel Majed Abdullah al-Nazili, a military spokesman, announced the figures on Saturday. He stated that these operations focused on field command centers, weapons depots, and supply lines in the Taiz region. The army says these strikes neutralized 300 Houthi fighters and disabled several military vehicles. Al Jazeera could not independently verify these specific numbers, but the report highlights the ferocity of the fighting on the ground.
The escalation extends beyond the front lines in Taiz. Houthi forces launched a new wave of attacks targeting locations in Saudi Arabia and Aden. In Aden, the seat of Yemen’s internationally recognized government, the Transport Ministry condemned strikes on the international airport. Officials said two ballistic missiles hit the facility on Saturday. This marks the fourth such incident in the current month. The ministry warned that these attacks threaten civil aviation safety and carry significant economic consequences for citizens who rely on the airport for travel. Yemeni authorities also reported that the coastguard headquarters and another building were struck during the assault.
The Houthi group claimed responsibility for hitting the al-Nasr camp and the naval military base in Aden. In a related incident on Friday, Yemen’s army reported that a Houthi missile malfunctioned. The projectile crashed into a family home in Sanaa, a city under Houthi control. The military announced that the crash killed three people. This incident is one of several missile malfunctions observed from the Iran-backed group in recent weeks, according to the army.
Saudi Arabia also faced strikes on Saturday. The civil defence agency confirmed that two ballistic missiles were launched toward Mecca and Medina. The agency warned of falling shrapnel after intercepting the projectiles. Images released by the Saudi Press Agency showed a large, blackened missile-shaped object that landed within Saudi territory. Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, described the attacks as heinous. He said in a statement that the strikes embodied a blatant disregard for the lives and security of civilians.
Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported on Saturday that Saudi coalition airstrikes killed several civilians in Sanaa and the port city of Hodeidah. Riyadh has not yet issued a formal comment regarding the alleged raids. The Houthi group also disputed the official narrative regarding their targets. They called the claim that they aimed at Mecca and Medina a huge lie. Instead, they stated that their intended targets were three Saudi airports, oil infrastructure, and an airbase.
The current phase of the conflict is defined by sustained pressure. Since a fragile ceasefire agreed upon in 2022 collapsed in July, the Houthis have persistently used long-range strikes. They have targeted Saudi energy infrastructure and airports across the kingdom. Intense fighting continues along Yemen’s front lines as Houthi forces battle the internationally recognized government’s troops for control of key areas.
