Yemeni government forces reported in a social media post that they have conducted 2,103 "precise targeting operations" against Houthi military positions. They claim to have "neutralised" 1,860 Houthi fighters since initiating a large-scale counter-offensive aimed at retaking territory controlled by the rebel group.
Rashad al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, announced the "Dawn of Yemen" operation on Sunday, which aims to reclaim all Houthi-held territory, including the capital, Sanaa, which has been under Houthi control since 2014.
Recent battles have concentrated around the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a significant shipping route for energy exports, especially since the conflict between the US and Iran has affected trade through the Strait of Hormuz.
Yemeni government forces launched an operation on Tuesday to capture strategic areas near the strait and around the city of Mocha, which the Houthis seized in September.
The Saudi-led coalition involved in the Yemen conflict reported on Wednesday that it had destroyed 82 Houthi military targets in the Yemeni governorates of Saada, Hodeidah, al-Jawf, and Marib. The coalition spokesperson stated that these targets included ballistic missile sites, command and control centers, and communication systems.
This operation follows Houthi attacks on Tuesday and Wednesday that targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Abha International Airport. According to Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority, the attacks resulted in three fatalities. One person was killed and eight were injured at King Khalid International Airport, while two were killed and 28 were injured at Abha airport, as reported by the General Authority of Civil Aviation.