Saudi-Backed Forces Report Houthi Drone and Missile Attacks as Coalition Retakes Key Red Sea Territory
Saudi-backed Yemeni forces have reported a surge in Houthi drone and missile attacks as the Saudi-led coalition launched a major ground and air offensive to retake territory seized by the rebels about a month ago along Yemen’s western Red Sea coast and the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait. On Monday, coalition officials said they had recaptured several key areas around the strait, a vital chokepoint for global shipping. The offensive marks a significant escalation in the long-running conflict, with both sides trading claims of battlefield gains.
Recent clashes have caused significant casualties on both sides, though competing claims remain difficult to independently verify. Earlier attacks in Marib and Hadramout also caused significant casualties among government-aligned troops. The Houthis have released footage purporting to show a targeted missile strike, but independent verification of the location, casualty total, and identities of those killed remains unavailable. Coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Malki said the wounded in one incident included seven Saudis, a Yemeni, two Egyptians, and a Pakistani, according to a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.
The attacks come as Yemen is increasingly drawn into the broader US-Israeli-Iranian confrontation, with the Houthis stepping up attacks against both government forces and neighboring Saudi Arabia, a key US ally and supporter of the internationally recognized Yemeni government. The evolving regional situation has prompted Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan to seek closer security ties, with the three Muslim-majority nations set to sign a joint defense agreement in Jeddah on Friday, according to Saudi sources with knowledge of the matter. Meanwhile, the US Department of Defense continues to maintain offshore capabilities to provide unique support without a large ground presence.
As the conflict intensifies, humanitarian concerns are mounting. In a separate development, aid deliveries including meal equivalents and approximately 25,900 bottles of water have been sent into Northern Gaza, an area of great need, allowing for civilian access to critical aid. The situation in Yemen remains volatile, with no immediate end to the violence in sight.
Shimanta Das 
