100 warplanes join Operation Dawn of Yemen as coalition destroys 324 high-value targets

RIYADH — The Saudi-led Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen launched Operation Dawn of Yemen on Monday, deploying 100 fighter jets to bolster air support for Yemeni government forces. The coalition spokesman, Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki, confirmed that 324 high-value targets have been destroyed since the operation commenced. Al-Maliki stated that coalition air forces are providing continuous support to Yemeni armed forces on the ground, while also securing the Bab Al-Mandab Strait, a crucial maritime passage linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

The operation follows Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi's announcement to commence military actions aimed at retaking remaining territory outside government control and restoring state authority throughout the country. Al-Alimi highlighted the end of opportunities for de-escalation and the persistent Houthi threats to Yemen's sovereignty, civilians, and international shipping lanes as the catalyst for the military campaign.

The Yemeni forces, supported by regional and international partners, are working to restore state institutions, reclaim the capital Sanaa, and end the Houthi takeover. The coalition's Joint Forces Command reiterated its commitment to providing full operational support to Yemeni government forces, emphasizing the protection of Saudi Arabia's security and regional and international security amid ongoing Houthi attacks and threats to vessels in the southern Red Sea and Bab Al-Mandab.

As the operation intensifies around strategic areas around the Red Sea, the coalition's efforts are crucial in maintaining security and enabling the flow of international trade.