ADEN: Yemen’s internationally recognized government forces have claimed that at least 700 Houthi fighters were killed or neutralized in 257 military operations across several fronts, marking a major escalation in the country’s renewed conflict.
Yemeni military spokesman Col. Majed Abdullah Al-Nuzaily stated that the operations targeted Houthi positions, movements and military capabilities in Sanaa, Midi, Baqim and the fronts of Al-Jawf, Marib, Al-Bayda and Lahij. The main operational effort was concentrated on fronts in Taiz province.
The military said the operations were carried out using warplanes, drones, artillery, missiles and rocket launchers. Targets included command and control centers, Houthi troop concentrations and reinforcements, combat reserves, weapons and ammunition depots, as well as military supply routes and vehicles.
According to preliminary battlefield estimates released by the Yemeni army, at least 700 Houthi fighters were killed or neutralized during the operations. The military also reported the destruction of 170 combat vehicles and other military assets.
The claims could not be independently verified, and the Houthis had not immediately issued a response to the reported losses.
The latest operations come as fighting intensifies around Taiz, a strategically important area that has been divided between Houthi and government forces. Yemeni government forces have also reported separate airstrikes against Houthi positions in Taiz, targeting personnel, military vehicles, weapons and supply lines.
The renewed fighting follows the collapse of a fragile 2022 truce in July. The latest escalation has also involved attacks and counterattacks extending beyond Yemen’s front lines, raising concerns over regional security and maritime traffic around the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Saudi Arabia has also carried out strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen following attacks attributed to the group, while the Houthis have claimed attacks against Saudi targets. The developments have raised the prospect of a broader Saudi-backed offensive against the Iran-aligned movement.
The renewed conflict is also worsening humanitarian conditions in Yemen. The World Food Programme has warned that fighting and displacement are driving food insecurity higher, with millions of people facing increasingly difficult access to essential supplies.
The latest military claims therefore represent a significant escalation in the conflict, although the reported casualty figures remain claims by the Yemeni government forces and have not been independently confirmed.
