Yemen rebels report about 40 Saudi strikes in fresh attack

Yemen descended back into war in July following years of peace, ignited by the US-Israeli assault on Iran that concluded at the end of February. The Houthi rebels of Yemen disclosed approximately 40 airstrikes carried out by Saudi forces on Thursday, following aggression from the Iran-supported group against the kingdom. According to Houthi news agency Saba, the Saudi air force carried out roughly 40 strikes in recent hours across the regions of Taiz, Hodeida, Al-Jawf, and Marib.

The Houthis, who hold significant portions of northwest Yemen, initiated a major offensive last week against Yemeni forces, supported by Saudi Arabia. They also targeted Saudi soil, resulting in numerous injuries. On Wednesday, the Saudi-led coalition combating the Houthis reported the rebels lobbing ballistic missiles and drones at several southern Saudi cities.

The Saudi civil defense issued warnings of potential threat in two areas, Khamis Mushait and Abha. The Houthis aim to advance towards coastal areas of the Red Sea bordering the crucial Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital trade route linking Asia to Europe. This strategic waterway gained heightened importance as a shipping lane since the inception of the broader Middle East conflict, with Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz.

Since last week, Yemen's fighting has claimed over 500 lives, primarily combatants, as per an AFP tally collected from multiple sources. The country slipped back into war in July after years of tranquility, plunged into the regional strife prompted by the US-Israeli offensive against Iran, which concluded at the end of February.