Saudi-led Coalition Launches Major Air Campaign Against Houthi Rebels

The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen announced a large-scale air campaign involving 100 fighter jets against Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The operation, named Operation Dawn of Yemen, targeted Houthi positions along the Red Sea coastline and in the capital, Sana’a. Maj Gen Turki al-Maliki, the coalition spokesperson, claimed the strikes secured the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait and destroyed hundreds of Houthi targets, including besieging fighters in the Dhubab district.

Ground forces known as the Giants Brigades, allied with Yemen’s internationally recognized government, launched an offensive on the eastern flank of coastal areas recently seized by the Houthis. Reports suggest Houthi forces are retreating from Mocha, though the rebels denied any retreat, citing recent attacks on Saudi oil facilities as proof of their continued capability.

Airstrikes also hit Sana’a and the Houthi stronghold of Saada, targeting command centers and weapons depots. The Houthis have advanced rapidly in recent weeks, capturing strategic locations near the Bab al-Mandab strait. The offensive marks a significant cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the UAE-backed Southern Giants Brigades, despite recent tensions.

UK involvement was noted, with British fighter jets reportedly supporting the Saudi air force. Meanwhile, senior ministers from Pakistan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia met in Riyadh to discuss defense strategies against the Houthis, though the specifics of their pact remain unclear.