The military wing of Yemen’s internationally recognized government announced Friday that it has eliminated hundreds of Houthi fighters over the preceding 24 hours. Colonel Majed Abdullah al-Nazili, a spokesperson for the government forces, stated that at least 1,150 militants were killed during approximately 2,000 targeted strikes conducted nationwide as part of the campaign codenamed “Dawn of Yemen.”
Al-Nazili further reported that army units had destroyed Houthi ammunition stockpiles and at least 180 combat, transport, and supply vehicles. He confirmed that ground troops are continuing their assault, though Al Jazeera was unable to independently verify these figures.
The announcement comes amid escalating violence in the region, including an attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday that resulted in casualties and flight cancellations. While the Houthis have not yet claimed responsibility for the airport strike, Iran-backed drones and missiles have frequently targeted Saudi infrastructure. The group has previously warned that any aircraft operating in Saudi airspace—excluding flights over the holy cities of Mecca and Medina—would be considered a target.
Tensions are also rising with Pakistan. Al Jazeera’s correspondent Yousef Mawry reported that the Houthis are preparing to fight on multiple fronts, explicitly threatening Pakistan if it engages militarily on behalf of Saudi Arabia. According to Mawry, the group has indicated plans to launch ballistic missiles toward Pakistan and attack vessels flying its flag in the Red and Arabian Seas.
Baraa Shiban, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London, described the conflict as increasingly complex. He noted that unlike previous phases of the war, there are currently no regional or local mediators actively working to de-escalate the situation, predicting that violence will continue to intensify.
At the center of the ground offensive is the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a critical maritime chokepoint for global shipping. Yemeni government forces, supported by Saudi Arabia, are pressing northward to recapture key coastal cities such as Mocha and Dhubab. The Houthis seized these strategic areas in September, effectively gaining control over the strait, although both sides lay claim to the shipping lanes.
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