Houthis claim new attacks on Saudi, advance on Bab al-Mandeb

On Monday, the Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen asserted responsibility for renewed attacks on neighboring Saudi Arabia, as fighting escalates along Yemen’s Red Sea coast. Military spokesman Yahya Saree reported Houthi forces had launched attacks against the Khamis Mushait airbase in southern Saudi Arabia, deploying dozens of missiles and drones to target weapons depots, runways, hangars, and other facilities.

Saree claimed the strikes resulted in "significant losses," although he did not provide further details. Saree attributed the attacks to retaliatory measures following more than 300 Saudi airstrikes on Yemen over the past few days. Saudi Arabia, which has supported Yemen's internationally recognized government against the Houthi insurgency for over a decade, has yet to comment on the Houthi claims.

Since 2014, the Houthi militia has controlled vast regions of Yemen, seizing Sanaa and large parts of the north. In a recent push, they have advanced south along the Red Sea coast towards the strategically significant Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Houthi sources and Yemeni government officials confirm the militia's control over the strategically located islands of Mayun (Perim) and Hanish.

The latest territorial gains come after the Houthi takeover of the Red Sea port city of Mocha. It remains uncertain whether the Houthi forces will maintain control over these newly captured territories. A spokesman for the government-aligned Giants Brigades, Aseel al-Saqaladi, described the situation as a "catastrophe" for the militia and suggested it could signal the beginning of their defeat in Yemen.

He called for an opportunity to wear down the Houthi forces. The increased hostilities have significantly escalated Yemen's ongoing civil war and brought the Houthi militia closer to the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a critical maritime route. The Houthi advance toward the Hanish Islands and Mayun has strengthened their control around the strait, potentially heightening the risk to commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

The Houthi group has previously targeted vessels in the region, and their recent advances have raised concerns about their ability to impose stricter measures on shipping passing through Bab al-Mandeb. While the Houthis claim to prioritize shipping safety in the area, they have also declared Saudi vessels subject to a "blockade."