Yemeni Army Claims 300 Houthi Kills in 24-Hour Surge

The Yemeni army claimed that 300 Houthi fighters were killed during a 24-hour surge of military activity. Colonel Majed Abdullah al-Nazili, a spokesperson for the government forces, announced on Saturday that troops conducted more than 700 targeting operations. He stated that these actions also disabled military vehicles, although the figures have not been independently verified. The operations concentrated on field command centers, weapons depots, and supply lines in the Taiz region, where clashes have persisted for several days.

The escalation follows the collapse of a fragile ceasefire in July 2022. Since that agreement ended, Houthi forces have maintained a campaign of long-range strikes against Saudi energy infrastructure and airports. This sustained pressure has defined the current phase of the conflict. On Saturday, the Yemeni government's Transport Ministry condemned a new attack on Aden International Airport. In a Facebook post, the ministry confirmed that two ballistic missiles struck the facility. This incident marks the fourth such attack on the airport in the current month. Officials warned that the strikes threaten civil aviation safety and carry economic consequences for citizens relying on the airport.

Yemeni authorities reported that the coastguard headquarters and another building were also hit during the assault on Aden. The Houthi group claimed responsibility for striking the al-Nasr camp and a naval military base. In a separate incident on Friday, Yemen's army stated that a Houthi missile malfunctioned and crashed into a family home in Sanaa. The malfunction killed three people. The military noted that such missile failures have occurred several times in recent weeks. Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported on Saturday that Saudi coalition airstrikes killed several civilians in Sanaa and Hodeidah, a claim Riyadh has not yet formally commented on.

Saudi Arabia's civil defence agency confirmed on X that Houthis launched two ballistic missiles 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. The Houthi group disputed the official narrative regarding their intended targets. They described the claim that they aimed at the holiest cities in Islam as a huge lie, stating instead that they targeted three Saudi airports, oil infrastructure, and an airbase. Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, described the attacks as heinous, saying they showed a blatant disregard for civilian security.

The military spokesman added that the recent operations focused on Houthi gatherings in Taiz. The region has seen intense fighting as government troops battle Houthi forces for control of key areas. The 700 operations reported by Colonel al-Nazili represent a high volume of engagement for a single day. The Yemeni government continues to push for control of strategic locations while the Houthis maintain their long-range pressure on neighboring Saudi Arabia.