Yemen rebels report about 40 Saudi strikes in fresh attack

Yemen descended back into war in July after a period of peace, entangled in the regional strife initiated by the US-Israeli assault on Iran, which commenced at the conclusion of February. The Houthi rebels in Yemen disclosed on Thursday that Saudi forces executed approximately 40 airstrikes in a new wave of attacks, following strikes by the Iran-aligned group on the kingdom.

The Saudi air force carried out roughly 40 strikes in the past hours in the provinces of Taiz, Hodeida, Al-Jawf, and Marib, according to the Houthi news agency Saba.

The Houthis, who govern vast regions of northern Yemen, initiated a large-scale offensive last week against Yemeni government forces, supported by Saudi Arabia. They also launched assaults on Saudi territory, resulting in dozens of injuries. On Wednesday, the Saudi-led coalition combating the Houthis reported that the rebels had fired ballistic missiles and drones towards several cities in southern Saudi Arabia. The Saudi civil defense issued warnings of potential danger in two areas, Khamis Mushait and Abha.

The rebels aspire to advance towards coastal areas of the Red Sea bordering the strategically vital Bab al-Mandab Strait, a crucial shipping route linking Asia to Europe via the Red Sea and Suez Canal. This waterway has gained significance as a transit route since the onset of the broader Middle East conflict, which saw Iran sever access to the Strait of Hormuz. Since last week, the Yemeni conflict has claimed over 500 lives, primarily combatants, as per an AFP tally derived from multiple sources.