Houthis Accuse Saudi Arabia of Airstrikes as Tensions Rise in Yemen

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels have accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out airstrikes around the country, as tensions rise in the region. The attacks targeted Houthi positions in the provinces of Jawf, al-Bayda, Marib, and Taiz, according to the Saba news agency, which is affiliated with the Houthi movement.

The Houthis are pressing a deadly offensive to seize territory bordering the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait. The narrow waterway forms the southern entrance to the Red Sea, a shipping artery that has become vital for Saudi oil exports since Iran blockaded the Strait of Hormuz during the US-Iran war.

Days of fighting near the Red Sea coast have left more than 300 people dead and displaced hundreds of families. Military sources within the government forces reported the air raids and missile attacks to AFP, but Saudi Arabia has not claimed responsibility for the strikes.