DOHA/TEHRAN/ISLAMABAD (MNN); Fighting has intensified in Yemen as forces aligned with the internationally recognised government clashed with Houthi fighters near the Saudi border, while the Houthis claimed to have shot down a Saudi fighter jet over Marib.
AFP footage showed government troops travelling in armoured vehicles and military trucks across desert terrain while heavy machine-gun fire could be heard.
The Houthis also released footage purporting to show fighting in Al-Jawf and separately claimed that a Saudi fighter aircraft had been brought down. Reuters reported that the Houthis made the claim but that no independent evidence confirming the downing of the F-15 had been provided.
Waleed Al-Mahajeri, operations commander of the Yemeni government’s Fifth Brigade, told an AFP journalist accompanying the forces that government troops were advancing along the Al-Labanat front towards Houthi positions.
He claimed that Houthi fighters were retreating from several fronts.
AFP footage showed government forces firing heavy machine guns, artillery and rocket-propelled grenades at distant positions. It also showed bodies and defensive positions that government troops said had been abandoned by the Houthis.
A government soldier identified as Abu Mithaq said Al-Masariya Hill and Al-Labanat camp had been captured, with the advance continuing towards Al-Tebab al-Soud.
Houthi Counterclaims
In footage released by the Houthis, fighters were shown moving through desert areas in pickup trucks, with one sequence appearing to show fire directed at an advancing vehicle.
A Houthi fighter said the group was carrying out an operation intended to cut off opposing forces.
Another video showed night-vision footage that the Houthis said depicted a projectile striking a fighter aircraft, followed by images of what appeared to be aircraft wreckage bearing a Saudi flag.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed that Yemeni forces had downed a Saudi F-15 over Marib using a locally produced missile while the aircraft was conducting what he described as “hostile activities”.
The Houthis also claimed that Saudi F-15 and Typhoon aircraft were forced to withdraw while searching for the wreckage.
Reuters reported the Houthi claim but noted that there was no independent confirmation of the aircraft being shot down.
Yemen Conflict Escalates
The latest fighting follows a major escalation in Yemen after years of relative calm following a 2022 truce.
The Houthis have made significant territorial gains along Yemen’s Red Sea coast and around the strategically important Bab el-Mandeb Strait, according to recent reporting.
The group has long controlled large areas of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa.
Saudi Arabia and forces supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government have intensified their response, while Saudi airstrikes have targeted Houthi positions.
The renewed fighting has also increased regional security concerns, particularly because of the strategic importance of the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb to international shipping.
Saudi Arabia Says Houthi Drone Intercepted Near Makkah
Separately, Saudi Arabia said its air defences intercepted and destroyed a Houthi-launched drone south of Makkah before it entered restricted airspace over the holy city.
Coalition spokesman Turki Al-Malki said the drone was intercepted at around 6:50pm local time on Tuesday, with debris falling south of Makkah. He described the security of the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims as a “red line”.
Saudi authorities characterised the incident as the second alleged Houthi attempt to target Makkah, referring to a ballistic missile incident in 2017. Reuters confirmed the Saudi account while noting that the Houthis denied targeting Makkah or any Islamic holy site.
Houthi official Hezam Al-Asad rejected the Saudi allegation, calling claims that the group targeted Makkah false.
OIC Condemns Alleged Attacks
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned what it described as Houthi attacks against Makkah and the Madinah region.
The OIC said the reported attacks threatened civilians and violated the sanctity of Islamic holy sites and mosques.
The development came amid a broader escalation in Houthi attacks against Saudi territory. Saudi authorities have reported missile and drone attacks affecting areas including Khamis Mushait, Abha and Taif, while the Houthis have claimed attacks against Saudi military and energy-related targets.
Yemen War Returns to Full-Scale Fighting
Yemen has remained divided since the Houthis seized Sanaa and large parts of the north in 2014. A Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015 in support of the internationally recognised government.
Although the intensity of the conflict declined considerably after the 2022 truce, the latest Houthi advances and Saudi military response have revived large-scale hostilities.
The renewed fighting is also generating wider humanitarian and regional concerns, with thousands of Yemenis reportedly fleeing renewed violence and seeking safety in southern parts of the country.
