Yemen's Saudi-backed government reported it conducted 181 military operations in 24 hours against Iran-aligned Houthi forces, using drones, artillery and rockets and claiming dozens of casualties. State and Houthi-controlled outlets reported missile and drone strikes around Mocha and Marib; Mocha port officials said recent attacks killed seven people and halted commercial operations with roughly $16 million in estimated losses. Independent verification of the competing claims is lacking amid continuing clashes and heightened regional tensions.
Yemeni Government Says It Carried Out 181 Strikes Against Iran-Aligned Houthis In 24 Hours
FILE PHOTO - Armed rebels of the Iran-backed Houthi militia take part in a demonstration against the US and Israel and solidarity with Palestinians people at Gaza Strip. (is associated with: «Yemeni forces report spike in attacks against Iran-allied Houthis») Osamah Yahya/dpa
Yemen's Saudi-backed government forces said on Sunday they carried out 181 military operations over the previous 24 hours against the Iran-aligned Houthi militia, as fighting between the two sides intensified.
Colonel Majid al-Nuzaili, a government spokesman, said the strikes targeted rebel positions and military objectives across multiple regions, and that the operations inflicted dozens of casualties among Houthi fighters and damaged military equipment. He said drones, artillery and rocket launchers were used.
The government described the campaign as retaliation for repeated Houthi attacks on civilians, civilian infrastructure, economic facilities and ports, as well as on positions held by government forces. The Houthis had not issued an immediate response to the government's account.
Attacks Around Mocha And Marib
Yemen's official Saba television reported a separate Houthi missile and drone assault on the coastal city of Mocha in the southwest. The state broadcaster did not provide independent confirmation of casualties or damage.
The Houthi-controlled Saba news agency later cited a military source saying its forces struck what it called "Saudi enemy" reinforcements in the Mocha area and in Marib province with ballistic missiles and drones, causing fatalities and injuries and destroying warehouses and weapons.
On Saturday the director of Mocha port told officials that recent Houthi strikes on the facility had killed seven people and forced a suspension of commercial and maritime operations. He estimated losses at about $16 million and said the port had been hit with more than 25 missiles.
Wider Context
Both sides have traded a series of attacks in recent weeks. The Houthis have launched strikes against Yemeni government forces and targeted or forced several Saudi vessels to change course after declaring a naval blockade in the Red Sea. Saudi airstrikes have also struck the rebel-controlled capital, Sana'a.
Yemen has been embroiled in a devastating conflict since the Houthis seized Sana'a and other northern areas in late 2014. Saudi Arabia leads a coalition supporting the internationally recognized Yemeni government.
Note: Claims from both the government and Houthi-controlled outlets have not been independently verified by international observers. Casualty figures and damage estimates remain disputed.
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