Yemeni army strikes Iranian-backed Houthi rebel positions

Military forces of the Yemeni government, which enjoys the support of Saudi Arabia, announced that they had carried out strikes against the Houthis in the capital, Sanaa, and in Saada province, which is considered a stronghold of the pro-Iranian rebels.

Al Masirah television, which is affiliated with the Houthis, described the operation as a “Saudi attack” on Sanaa. Saudi Arabia has not yet confirmed these reports.

The escalation comes after the Houthis said on Saturday that they had launched ballistic missiles and used drones against facilities belonging to oil company Saudi Aramco in Riyadh. According to an AFP journalist, one of Aramco’s plants south of the Saudi capital was engulfed in flames.

Following the 2022 ceasefire agreement reached between the coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognized government and the Houthis, most of the fighting came to a halt. But tensions in the region have reignited clashes this summer, while in recent weeks they have intensified, once again pushing the country toward war.

In September, Houthi rebels took control of several areas along Yemen’s Red Sea coast. The development strengthened their positions in the strategic Bab el-Mandeb strait, through which Europe is connected to Asia via the Suez Canal.