Yemen's Houthis accuse Saudi Arabia of air raids, missile strikes

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis on Monday accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out airstrikes around the country as the rebels press a deadly offensive to seize territory bordering the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait. The attacks targeted Houthi positions across Yemen, the Arabian Peninsula's poorest country, which is divided between rebel-held areas and territory held by the Saudi-backed, internationally recognized government.

What did the Houthis say about the Saudi airstrikes?

The Houthi-affiliated Saba news agency said Saudi forces targeted the provinces of Jawf, al-Bayda, Marib and Taiz with several airstrikes and cruise missiles. Days of fighting near the Red Sea coast have killed more than 300 people and displaced hundreds of families as the Houthis try to capture land bordering the Bab al-Mandab.

Military sources within the government forces also reported the air raids and missile attacks to AFP, though Saudi Arabia has not claimed them. Most of the strikes hit Al Bayda and Marib, targeting strategic positions, gatherings and camps under Houthi control, the sources said on condition of anonymity. On Saturday, a military official told AFP that Saudi airstrikes had targeted positions the Houthis recently seized in Taiz governorate.

Why is the Bab al-Mandab strait important?

The Bab al-Mandab forms the southern entrance to the Red Sea, a shipping artery that has become a vital route for Saudi oil exports since Iran blockaded the Strait of Hormuz during the US-Iran war. Control of the narrow waterway has turned it into the central flashpoint in the latest round of fighting between the Houthis and government forces.

The two sides have been fighting for days over the strait, marking the deadliest flare-up in Yemen since a 2022 ceasefire collapsed in July. The Houthis, whose attacks seriously disrupted Red Sea shipping during the Gaza war, have also declared a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia and have been targeting its ships and territory.