Smoke rises from a fire at the Aramco refinery south of Riyadh (Reuters)
Fighting between the two sides had largely stopped after a 2022 truce, but hostilities resumed this year after the Houthis declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia in July and began attacking Saudi territory and shipping. The latest strikes mark a renewed escalation between the Saudi-backed Yemeni government and the Houthis.
More than 100,000 Yemeni troops could be mobilised, depending on the scale of the offensive, according to six regional and Western officials cited by Reuters. Yemen’s internationally recognised government has launched strikes against Iran-aligned Houthi targets in the capital Sanaa and the northern province of Saada, escalating military operations against the rebels amid growing tensions over control of the Red Sea. Houthi-run Al Masirah television, meanwhile, reported that Saudi Arabia had carried out an attack on Sanaa, although Riyadh had not immediately confirmed the claim. Houthi-run Al Masirah TV reported that Saudi Arabia had carried out an attack on Sanaa. Reuters said there was no immediate confirmation from Saudi Arabia of the reported attack.
Yemen’s armed forces said they were conducting strikes against what they described as “vital targets” in Houthi-held areas, according to Reuters. Saudi Arabia has responded with airstrikes in Yemen while backing government forces fighting to push back the Houthis, according to Reuters. The planned operation would be led on the ground by Yemeni forces overseen by Saudi Arabia and supported by Saudi airstrikes.
Yemen’s armed forces said early on Sunday that they were conducting strikes against Iran-aligned Houthi forces in the capital Sanaa and the Houthi stronghold of Saada.