The war in Yemen has intensified once again. The Ansar Allah (Houthi) group has launched several missile attacks on Saudi Arabia and southern Yemen, while ground clashes have also intensified on various fronts. According to the Saudi-led coalition, a ballistic missile fired by the Houthis north of Riyadh was destroyed in flight by air defence systems.
Meanwhile, the media office of the Aden security authority said two missiles fired by the Houthis were aimed at Aden International Airport. According to officials, there were no casualties in the attack.
These attacks come as large-scale military operations continue on various fronts in Yemen. Saudi-backed government forces have in recent weeks been trying to regain control of Houthi-held areas, especially along the western coastal strip and around the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
According to the Saudi civil aviation authority, at least three people were injured in attacks on the airports of Jazan and Najran near the Yemeni border.
Although Saudi officials did not formally confirm that Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport was targeted, the air traffic monitoring website Flightradar24 showed repeated temporary closures of the airport’s airspace during this time.
Meanwhile, the conflict has intensified further after a video of fighting near Bab al-Mandab emerged.
According to the news agency Reuters, the video has been verified. In it, armoured vehicles can be seen advancing towards people, some of whom appear armed and some apparently unarmed. Some people are also seen with their hands raised, sitting or lying on the ground.
The Houthis called the incident a war crime and strongly criticised the government forces. They said the video exposes the “true nature” of their opponents.
However, a spokesperson for the Giants Brigades, active on the Bab al-Mandab front, said the incident is being investigated. According to him, the forces had been told that Houthi fighters were surrendering, but some of them later opened fire on government personnel.
The Saudi-led coalition did not immediately comment on the video or the allegations. However, the Homeland Shield Forces have instructed their personnel to treat prisoners in accordance with humanitarian, moral and legal principles.
Fighting continues around the Bab al-Mandab Strait, one of the world’s most important shipping lanes.
Government forces claim they regained control of several Houthi-held areas last month. On Monday night, the forces announced successes on several fronts, saying the Houthis had been pushed back from various areas of Taiz province, while progress had also been made in southern parts of Marib province.
