Yemen conflict escalates as Houthis report 106 Saudi strikes and counterattacks

The Houthi group in Yemen reported 106 air and missile strikes by Saudi Arabia across Houthi-controlled areas within a single day, marking a sharp escalation in the ongoing conflict. The internationally recognized Yemeni government launched a new military campaign, dubbed the "battle of liberation," aimed at retaking territory from the Houthis. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea stated that the attacks targeted the capital Sanaa and provinces such as Al-Jawf and Taiz, bringing the total number of strikes since the latest escalation began to 1,516.

In response, the Houthis claimed to have launched ballistic missiles and drones at two Saudi Aramco facilities, including the Khurais oil complex near Riyadh. Sarea asserted that the attacks achieved their objectives, causing large fires, though these claims could not be independently verified. The Saudi authorities and Aramco had not commented on the alleged attacks as of the report.

The conflict in Yemen has seen one of its sharpest escalations in years, with heavy fighting spreading across southwestern Yemen and renewed cross-border hostilities between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia. The conflict began in late 2014 when the Houthis seized Sanaa, leading to a Saudi-led coalition intervention in 2015. Additionally, the UK Maritime Trade Operations reported explosions near a vessel in the Red Sea off Yemen's Mocha, advising vessels to transit with caution.