Clashes between Yemeni government forces supported by Saudi Arabia and the Houthis continued on Wednesday, further threatening international shipping as the Iran-backed rebel group solidifies its control over territory neighboring the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Col. Majed Al-Nuzaili said strikes against Houthi positions increased in intensity this week, pointing to destroyed rebel equipment in Dhubab and Khoka.
Government forces in Taiz, Yemen, reportedly destroyed a Houthi ballistic missile launcher at the Taiz airport. Houthi fighters also reportedly launched a major offensive against government forces in the area, but were repelled.
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Separately, Arab News reported that the expanded air campaign against Houthi positions in Mokha, Dhubab and Khokha, all recently captured by the rebels, is a preparatory phase before a major ground offensive aimed at taking back control of much of the area near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
The Houthis have increased attacks against Saudi-aligned forces in Yemen. The rebels released battlefield footage overnight showing fighting as they seized armored vehicles while warplanes flew overhead.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said Wednesday that rebel forces shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet.
Neither Riyadh nor independent sources have confirmed or verified the incident.
Mr. Saree said Saudi-backed forces have launched more than 450 airstrikes against rebel positions over the past week. Earlier this month, Houthi sources asserted that Riyadh had authorized just over 300 strikes, which could confirm an escalation of attacks.
Saudi Arabia has not confirmed or denied the Houthis’ accounting of airstrikes.
However, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday accused the Houthis of launching a drone strike near Mecca after its air defenses shot down an unidentified drone near the Islamic holy city. Riyadh said the attempted strike crossed a firm “red line” by targeting one of the most important spiritual sites for Muslims, while the Houthis rejected the accusation.
The Houthis have, in addition to accelerating their attacks on Saudi-backed government forces in Yemen, increased their efforts to strike within Saudi Arabia itself.
The Houthis professed to have struck at the Khamis Mushait air base and several oil facilities in the port city of Yanbu.
“The first targeted the Aramco facility in Yanbu with dozens of ballistic missiles and drones; the strikes were precise and direct, thanks be to Allah, causing large fires and widespread destruction,” Houthi military forces wrote in a statement.
Riyadh has not commented on the alleged attacks.
The continued fighting on Wednesday follows several days of intense clashes between the Yemeni government forces and the Houthis, which have been officially at war since 2014.
While both sides had operated under a wide-reaching 2022 ceasefire agreement for years, the war restarted in June after the Houthis declared a blockade on Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea, vowing to strike at ships attempting to traverse the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
Earlier this month, Houthi fighters stormed across Yemen’s southwestern coastline, capturing several key coastal towns, ports and islands. The acquisitions give the rebels increased influence over the strait, which is located in the southern end of the Red Sea.
The Houthis’ victories are a particular threat to Saudi Arabia, which has increasingly relied on the strait to export its oil after Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz earlier this month.
The kingdom’s land routes to transport its oil have also come under fire from Iran-linked groups this month. Several drone attacks have caused significant damage to Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline, according to reports, with operations temporarily paused.
The drones were reportedly fired from eastern Iraq, which is occupied by several Iran-aligned militia organizations that have been known to target Saudi energy infrastructure with missiles and drones.
Saudi Aramco is reportedly working to create a bypass for the damaged section of the pipeline, but it remains unclear how long repairs could take and Iraqi militia or the Houthis could further damage the route with subsequent strikes.
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told Fox News on Wednesday that he expects the damage to be repaired in a matter of days, a claim out of step with several industry experts who say it could take weeks.
The damage to the pipeline and the Houthis’ increased control over the Bab al-Mandeb Strait have kept oil prices above $100 this week. Brent crude recorded a price per barrel of approximately $106 on Wednesday.
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