• Yemeni forces say they have tightened control over the highest peak in the Jabal Habashi district of Taiz.
• Two powerful explosions rock the southern port city of Aden near its international airport, according to our colleagues on the ground.
• The Saudi-led coalition says the Houthi-held capital, Sanaa, and the governorates of Saada and Amran serve as the sources of Houthi missile threats.
• Saudi Arabia says three people were wounded in attacks on Monday evening targeting the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz airport in Jazan and the Najran airport near the Yemen border.

War

Yemeni government forces battle Houthis for strategic Red Sea highlands

It’s an all-out battleground and an all-out battle to take over the ground, the highlands and the mountains east of Bab al-Mandeb.

It’s a battle to take over the strategic western part of Taiz, and whoever controls the wider vicinity will overlook the region and have dominant military control.

For the [Yemeni] government to take control of Mocha and the strategic bases and locations along the Red Sea coast, it first has to drive the Houthis off the mountains east of Mocha.

According to Houthi officials, the group now controls the city of Mocha and is still in control of Bab al-Mandeb.

It’s also more of a media war between the two sides, each leveraging their media campaigns.

Two Houthi missiles target Aden International Airport, causing no casualties

Two powerful explosions rocked the southern port city of Aden near its international airport early on Wednesday.

The media office of the Aden security department said that two missiles launched by the Iran-aligned Houthis targeted the airport, but no casualties were reported.

Two ballistic missiles strike area near Aden International Airport

Two ballistic missiles hit the area near Aden International Airport.

Initial reports claim one of the two missiles targeted a unit of the Saudi-led coalition at the Badr Centre, but we do not have confirmation of that. The missiles were likely fired from neighboring governorates under the control of the Houthi group.

Local witnesses say the other missile hit close to the airport’s runway. The explosions were heard all the way from the outskirts of Aden, with interceptor fire heard after the impacts.

Yemeni forces launch offensive to retake Houthi-held al-Waziiya in Taiz

Forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognised government have launched an offensive to retake the mountainous district of al-Waziiya in Taiz governorate from the Houthis, part of a push to recapture the Red Sea coast and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

The Houthis, an armed group also known as Ansar Allah, seized the capital, Sanaa, by force in 2014 and later imposed their own government. The Iran-aligned group controls the north and northeast, and last month swept through the western coast, taking the port city of Mocha and areas around Bab al-Mandeb.

The offensive is part of “Dawn of Yemen”, announced on Sunday by Rashad al-Alimi, chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, to retake all remaining Houthi-held territory, including Sanaa.

The media centre of Yemen’s army said in a post on X that the Homeland Shield Forces, a pro-government military faction, have begun “a large-scale operation” to retake al-Waziiya and secured strategic hills overlooking the al-Mansoura area.

Jabal Habashi and the battle for Yemen’s Taiz

Jabal Habashi is a key mountainous district on the western front of Yemen’s Taiz governorate, overlooking vital trade and supply routes linking Taiz city with al-Barh and the Red Sea coast.

One of its main battlefronts, al-Anin, overlooks the al-Ramada road between Taiz and al-Barh. The route has historically served as an important supply corridor through western Taiz, making control of the surrounding high ground militarily significant.

Mountain warfare also makes territorial gains difficult to achieve and hold. Elevated positions provide commanding views and defensive advantages, while narrow roads and rugged terrain slow advances and leave supply lines vulnerable.

Fighting has intensified across Jabal Habashi and neighboring Maqbanah as the Houthis and Yemeni government forces contest the western approaches to Taiz.

Government forces said that their operations there are part of a broader effort to push back Houthi advances in western Taiz, coming as they also attempt to counter Houthi positioning further west along the Red Sea corridor.

Control over these rugged highlands remains critical for breaking years of front-line stalemates that have severely restricted humanitarian aid and civilian movement across southwestern Yemen.

Yemen government forces launch offensive in Taiz

The Saudi-backed Yemeni government’s army and forces loyal to it say they have launched a military operation in the al-Wazi’yah district of Taiz, moving deeper into territory controlled by the Houthis.

The Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, in 2014 and later imposed their own government.

The government offensive that began on Monday is focused on Taiz province along the western coast, an area the Iran-backed Houthis took control of last month. Government forces say they have captured crucial highlands overlooking al-Mansora.

Yemen’s government is on the attack against the Houthis.

Yemen’s Saudi-backed government wants to show it has finally taken the initiative against the Houthis in the country’s long-running war.

The initial aim is to reverse gains made by the Houthis last month, when the Iran-backed group took control of one of the world’s most important waterways, the Bab al-Mandeb strait.

But the ultimate goal of the operation is to retake areas of the country held by the Houthis for more than a decade, including the capital, Sanaa, which they seized in 2014 and later imposed their own government.

It is a lofty ambition, and the achievements so far have been modest – most notably a limited advance into areas near Bab al-Mandeb.

Aden airport resumes flights after Houthi attack

On the al-Waziiya front, Yemen’s government forces continue to engage in intense fighting with the Houthis after the Saudi-backed coalition seized control of the strategic Jabal al-Mansoura area west of Taiz.

Battles are raging at an accelerated pace. This comes alongside intensive air attacks on Houthi positions on this critical Red Sea coastal front.

Government brigades announced the launch of an offensive to retake this district from Houthi control. It’s strategically important because it contains numerous mountains and high ground that provide important combat control during their advance in the district of Dhubab and around Dhubab airport.

Local sources report Aden International Airport resumed flights this morning after it was attacked by Houthi suicide drones and two ballistic missiles.

A civilian flight arriving from Cairo was diverted and landed at Jeddah airport. It was only minutes away from landing in Aden as the Houthis hit the airport. The Transport Ministry said it evacuated airport staff and two remaining planes from the airport.

Yemen war ramps up with ground battles and missile-drone strikes

Following the major military operation launched by forces of Yemen’s Saudi-backed government against the Houthis, this live page will focus on all developments coming out of the country.

The battle for Yemen between the Saudi-led coalition and the Iran-aligned Houthis can be viewed as part of the US-Israel war on Iran, which began on February 28 and has roiled the Middle East ever since.

Houthi forces target Saudi capital for 3rd time in less than a month

This morning’s targeting of Riyadh is the third such attack in less than a month. There was a similar assault in mid-September and another attempted strike at the end of the month. The Saudi-led coalition said at the time it intercepted those Houthi missiles.

It appears Saudi Arabia and the coalition are carrying out two parallel operations as a result of developments on the ground in Yemen: defensive and offensive operations. The defensive effort is monitoring the kingdom’s airspace and attempting to counter Houthi attacks, which are increasing especially in light of the military developments in Yemen.

The coalition is also conducting offensive operations inside Yemen. Since the launch of the “Dawn of Yemen” operation, it has supported Yemeni forces on the ground with air cover. On the first day of the offensive, the coalition said 100 fighter jets took part and destroyed Houthi targets.

Houthis slowly dragging Yemen into becoming a humanitarian case

Sultan Barakat, a professor at Qatar’s Hamad Bin Khalifa University, told Al Jazeera that the Saudi-backed Yemeni government’s goal of fully restoring state control might be “very unrealistic”.

“They’ve been in power for such a long time,” Barakat said of the Iran-backed Houthis.

“They have actually gained a lot of popularity amongst the people as a result of their stance against Israel since October 7. It’s very unlikely that you can now simply reverse history and go back to what it was before they took over.”

In the past 12 years, the Houthis have managed to seize the city of Sanaa – a key political gain – as well as the port city of Hodeidah, which represents a major economic prize for them, Barakat said. At present, the group is pushing to take Taiz, which is strategic for its location as a gateway to the Aden base of the Saudi-backed Yemeni government.

But the group has also made serious mistakes, Barakat noted. They have failed to properly govern the regions they control, and the country has continued to sink into crises.

“It’s also problematic that the Houthis don’t seem to think strategically enough,” Barakat said.

“They haven’t really come up with a position that they can take Yemen forward with… Slowly, they are dragging the country into becoming a humanitarian case.”

Yemeni government forces report successes in mountainous areas of Taiz

Yemeni government forces, represented by the Homeland Shield Brigades and the 35th Armoured Brigade, have retaken control of Mount Mansoura, the highest peak in Mount Habashi, and the strategic hills in Al-Waziyah in Taiz province.

The operation is part of a military offensive to recapture the district, which represents a hinterland for the western coast.

Several fronts witnessed artillery shelling and air raids targeting Houthi fortifications in Al-Turbah and Al-Nawazil.

Houthi artillery shelling of five districts in Taiz resulted in the death of six people and the injury of 19 others.

Yemeni government forces report air strikes south of Taiz as fighting intensifies

Yemen government-aligned forces say fighting has intensified on all of its fronts in Taiz governorate, and that warplanes have carried out air strikes south of the city.

The Taiz Axis media centre said on X that “the intensity of the battles has escalated across all fronts,” concentrated in the southern countryside of Taiz, Mount Habashi and the fronts around the city.

In a separate post, it said warplanes struck Mount Matran in the Uzlat al-Qudus area of al-Mawasit district, south of Taiz.

The Taiz Axis also said its forces thwarted a Houthi attack on the al-Salw front, south of Taiz, on Tuesday, killing 12 Houthi fighters and wounding others.

Yemen fighting focused around mountain belt between Taiz city and Red Sea

This is a strategic military position that both sides have been fighting for control of.

The Ansar Allah Houthis currently control most of this mountainous region. This mountain belt, which basically gives you the capability to overlook the entire western coast, sits in between the city of Taiz and the Red Sea.

So controlling this mountainous region will give you access to monitor all of the roads that lead to the city of Mocha and to the Red Sea, and it will also give you the ability to dominate the supply routes that lead to the city of Taiz and also to the port of Mocha.

This is where most of the fighting has been happening over the past couple of days.

The internationally recognized Yemeni government, with the help of Saudi air strikes, managed to penetrate the outskirts of Dhubab and the outskirts of Bab al-Mandeb.

Yemen Airways to operate as scheduled despite attack on Aden airport

Yemen Airways says it will continue to operate its flights according to its operational schedule, while taking the necessary measures to choose the safest routes, according to the Yemeni News Agency.

Hatem al-Shaabi, the official spokesperson for the airline, confirmed that flights have been operating since Wednesday morning as scheduled, noting that the company contacted passengers and confirmed their flight times.

Saudi navy chief receives US naval commander to discuss maritime security

The chief of the Royal Saudi Naval Staff has received the commander of US Naval Forces Central Command and his team for talks in Saudi Arabia.

Lieutenant-General Muhammad al-Ghurairi and Vice Admiral Curt Renshaw discussed maritime cooperation between the two countries to enhance maritime security and promote freedom of navigation in the region, according to a post on X by the the kingdom’s Ministry of Defense.

‘Not opening new fronts’: Syria rules out possibility of getting involved in Yemen war

Syria’s Ministry of Information has denied rumors on X that suggest the possibility of getting involved in the Yemen conflict, saying, “Syria’s policy in the region is focused on stability, peace and cooperation, not opening new fronts.”

The ministry said that any involvement from Syria would come only through official channels and existing bilateral frameworks.

Claims

Houthis, Saudi-led forces claim victories 

Saudi Arabia’s Jazan and Najran airports were attacked as the Saudi-led coalition launched air attacks on Houthi sites in Yemen and government forces claimed control of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

Houthi officials say the Iran-aligned group maintains “firm control” over recently captured territory.

Saudi-led coalition says it intercepted Houthi ballistic missile north of Riyadh

The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen says it has intercepted and destroyed a Houthi ballistic missile north of the capital, Riyadh.

In a post on X, the coalition spokesperson, Major-General Turki al-Maliki, said the missile had been launched by the Houthis.

Al-Maliki also said that the coalition was tracking the launch platform using its intelligence systems over Sanaa and would destroy it.

Yemeni government fighters say drone struck Houthi position in Taiz

Yemen’s government-aligned Homeland Shield Forces says it hit Houthi fighters with a drone on the al-Waziiya front in Taiz governorate.

The Homeland Shield Forces are among several military factions fighting for the Saudi-backed government against the Iran-aligned Houthi group. These include the Joint Forces on the western coast, Emergency Forces, and the Southern Giants Brigade.

In the contested Taiz province, on the Bab al-Mandeb strait, government forces hold Taiz city while the Houthis control the areas surrounding it to the north.

 

Yemeni government says ‘Dawn of Yemen’ operation making progress on the ground

Yemen’s Saudi-backed government says its “Dawn of Yemen” military operation against the Houthis is advancing, as officials meet to raise security readiness.

Prime Minister Shaya al-Zindani met ministers in Aden on Tuesday to discuss the operation, according to the state-run Saba news agency. He ordered higher security readiness, protection of vital facilities and the completion of arrangements for areas returning to state authority. He also called for stepped-up diplomatic efforts to explain the operation’s aims and rally international support, including for protecting shipping in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb strait.

Presidential Leadership Council head Rashad al-Alimi was briefed by the defence minister and army chief on the fighting, Saba reported. He praised “field progress” by government forces and popular resistance fighters, urged residents of Houthi-held areas not to respond to recruitment drives, and called on Houthi fighters to lay down their arms.

Defence Minister Taher al-Aqili also praised what he called the forces’ progress and ordered the continued implementation of approved plans.

Houthis say Yemeni government forces stopped from advancing in al-Jawf governorate

The Houthis’ military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, has said the group has prevented Yemeni government forces from gaining ground in the al-Jawf governorate.

According to Saree, the Houthis targeted government forces with a number of ballistic missiles and drones, resulting in dozens of casualties and the destruction of several vehicles.

The government forces’ latest military offensive, announced on Sunday, aims to recapture Houthi-held territory across Yemen.

At least three killed in Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia’s Abha, King Khalid airports: Aviation authority

Three civilians have been killed and 36 injured in Houthi attacks on Abha and King Khalid International airports, according to a statement from the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation.

The attack on Abha International Airport in the southern city of Abha killed two female residents, a Moroccan and an Algerian, and injured 28 others.

The attack on King Khalid International Airport in the capital Riyadh killed a Sudanese citizen and injured eight residents, including five Saudi citizens.

The statement said the attacks came today and yesterday, but did not specify which airport was hit when.

Saudi-led coalition claims destruction of ballistic missile platform used in Riyadh attack

The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen says it destroyed the ballistic missile launch platform used in the attack on Riyadh earlier today.

“The destruction operation took place in Yemen’s capital of Sanaa during preparations for an imminent attack against the Kingdom,” the spokesperson for the coalition, Colonel Turki al-Maliki, said in a post on X.

Houthis claim Yemeni government forces struck with 11 missiles over past 24 hours

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree has said the group targeted 11 groups of Yemeni government forces with ballistic missiles across Yemen in the past 24 hours.

According to Saree, the internationally recognised government’s forces were struck along key routes near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, including Ras al‑Ara, al-Mudarabah and al‑Saqiya, by 11 ballistic missiles launched by the Houthis. The attacks resulted in dozens of casualties, including military commanders, and the destruction of several vehicles.

Separately, Saree said the Houthis targeted the Saudi Arabia-backed Giants Brigades with a ballistic missile, killing and injuring more than 30.

Yemeni government forces say they established full control of Kahboub Mountains

Yemen’s government forces have said they have established full control of the strategic mountainous region of Kahboub, located across the Lahij and Taiz governorates and overlooking the critical Bab al-Mandeb strait.

The forces said the operation was a part of the “Dawn of Yemen” campaign, announced by the chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad al-Alimi, on Sunday. The campaign aims to retake all remaining Houthi-held territory, including the capital Sanaa.

Saudi-led coalition says it destroyed 82 Houthi military targets across Yemen

The Saudi-led coalition says it has launched a “comprehensive operation” against Houthi military sites after recent attacks on civilian targets in Saudi Arabia.

In a statement posted on X, coalition spokesperson Major-General Turki al-Maliki said 82 targets were destroyed across Saada, Hodeidah, al-Jawf and Marib.

He said the targets included 11 mountain-based ballistic missile storage sites in Saada, as well as command and control centers, communications systems, missile and weapons depots, and gathering sites.

Al-Maliki said the operation followed Houthi attacks targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Abha International Airport in the country’s southwest, adding that attacks on civilian sites “will not go unpunished”.

"says" doesn't mean  "has" rather 'claims'

Yemeni government forces say 1,860 Houthi fighters ‘neutralised’ in ‘Dawn of Yemen’ operation

Yemen’s government forces say they have carried out 2,103 “precise targeting operations” against Houthi military positions across several fronts as part of the ongoing “Dawn of Yemen” operation.

In a post on X, the military spokesperson said the strikes targeted Houthi movements, fortifications, supply lines and military positions.

He claimed the operations had “neutralised” 1,860 Houthi fighters and destroyed hundreds of pieces of military equipment, weapons and military sites.

Humanitarian

Yemen’s cooking gas shortage brings life in Aden to standstill

In Aden, the southern port city where Yemen’s internationally recognised government is based, a cooking gas shortage is pushing daily life and basic services to the brink.

Residents roll empty cylinders through the streets in search of refills, and many say official stations are running dry, forcing some to wait hours or abandon work altogether.

When official supplies disappear, a black market takes over, with residents saying a cylinder can cost up to three times the official price.

UN Special Envoy to Yemen Grundberg wraps up Washington visit

The UN’s special envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, has concluded a visit to Washington, DC, where he held talks with senior US officials on the latest developments in Yemen.

Grundberg’s visit ended on Tuesday, according to a statement posted on X by his office. He met officials at the State Department, the National Security Council and the Pentagon, as well as US and Yemeni experts.

The talks focused on developments in Yemen, including the security implications for the wider region, the statement said.

Grundberg stressed that regional and international commitment to a political track is essential to reaching a comprehensive solution to the conflict and achieving peace and stability in Yemen and neighboring countries, the office said.

Japan gives $10m in emergency aid to Yemen and Djibouti

Japan will provide $10m in emergency aid to Yemen and Djibouti in response to Yemen’s worsening humanitarian situation as the war’s effects spill over into neighboring countries.

The Japanese government approved the grant on Tuesday, its embassy said in a press release.

The aid is intended to support peace and stability in the Middle East, including around the Bab al-Mandeb strait, which the government described as “of utmost importance” to the international community, including Japan, for energy security.

Yemen will receive $8m channeled through the UN’s World Food Program, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the International Organization for Migration. Djibouti will receive $2m through the UN refugee agency.

More than 200,000 now displaced in Yemen

A total of 201, 217 people have been displaced so far in Yemen, the International Organization for Migration says.

That’s a significant increase from the 76,000 it reported displaced in mid-September. War displacement as well as humanitarian needs are mounting every day, but there isn’t enough funding to respond, the UN agency said in a statement.

“People are running for their lives and finding nowhere safe to go,” said agency chief Amy Pope.

“They need a roof, food and safety today. Our teams are on the ground, but the funding is not. I am asking donors to act now because every day of delay costs lives.”

Yemen instability highlights fragile humanitarian situation, warns NGO

Yemen’s humanitarian needs have risen and access to healthcare has become increasingly challenging, the NGO Premiere Urgence Internationale has warned.

“Recent events on Yemen’s west coast, particularly around our operational base in Mokha [Mocha], are a stark reminder of how fragile and volatile the situation remains,” said Camille Saulnier, country director for Premiere Urgence Internationale in Yemen.

Despite the challenges, the organization said in a statement that 20 of 21 health facilities across the country are fully operational.

In addition to other healthcare and nutrition services, the French NGO is also managing the country’s cholera outbreak. It said maintaining its services is critical as repeated displacement and precarious conditions increase the risk of disease outbreaks, including cholera, measles, malaria and dengue fever.

“This predicament is also taking a heavy psychological toll on affected communities,” the NGO said.

Switzerland pledges nearly $2m in additional humanitarian aid for Yemen

Switzerland has announced an additional $1.2m in emergency aid to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and nearly $780,000 to the World Food Program in support of Yemen, according to the Swiss Foreign Ministry.

The ministry called on all parties to respect international humanitarian law and protect civilians, and encouraged dialogue.

Mecca accord

Saudi Arabia may be reluctant to test new Mecca security pact

Sultan Barakat, a senior professor in public policy at the Qatar Foundation’s Hamad Bin Khalifa University, said Yemen has pretty much returned to civil war, as fighting intensified in the past week following years of a deadlock.

With the Saudi-backed Yemeni government now recording some gains against the Houthis, Barakat said it would be hard to envision a break in the fighting.

But while Saudi Arabia has taken a “more aggressive posture” against the Houthis, Barakat said the kingdom is still wary of getting too deeply involved.

“It’s not in their interest to get involved in a prolonged conflict in Yemen,” he said. “They have other priorities economically, regionally, in terms of security alliances, etc. So they don’t want to waste their assets in this particular moment.”

Saudi Arabia might also be reluctant to test its new security pact with Pakistan and Turkey, Barakat added, so as not to expose its limitations.

Riyadh has other defence priorities, too, regarding Iran and Israel, he noted.

However, if the Houthis were to take the strategic city of Taiz, a gateway to the Aden base of the Saudi-backed coalition forces, then Riyadh might react more forcefully, Barakat concluded.

Yemen war politics

Yemen condemns Houthi attack on Aden airport as inbound flight approached

Yemen’s Transport Ministry says Houthi forces targeted Aden International Airport early on Wednesday with two ballistic missiles and several explosive-laden drones.

The ministry said one missile landed near the runway “minutes” before Yemenia flight 603 from Cairo was due to land, prompting authorities to divert the aircraft to Jeddah.

It added that passengers and staff were evacuated from the terminal, while two aircraft on the ground – one belonging to Yemenia and another to Aden Airways – were moved away from the area after drones were detected over the city.

The ministry said the attack “placed the lives of civilians and aviation crews in direct danger” and described it as “a serious escalation” and a threat to civilian aviation.

“Aden airport should remain a safe space for passengers and workers, not an arena of fear and threat,” the statement added.

A non-stop flight from Cairo to Aden takes 3 hours and 30 minutes. From Jeddah to Aden it takes 2 hours.

But the trajectory of IY603 shows that it was at least 1 hour away from Aden International Airport, not minutes. This means that the Houthi missile hit the airport at least one hour before the landing of the plane.

Click image or here.

Yemeni government denounces Houthis’ ‘heinous assault’ on Aden airport

Yemen’s Ministry of Transport has condemned the Houthis for targeting Aden’s international airport with two ballistic missiles and several explosive drones.

In a statement on X, the ministry called the attack “a heinous assault that exposed the lives of passengers, workers, and flight crews to real danger”.

Initial reports indicate there were no casualties, it said.

The war in Yemen started with the bombardment of Sana'a International Airport by the Saudi-backed government to prevent an Iranian passenger plane, that had a Ansarullah Houthi delegation on board.

Earlier, we've outlined our finding about the Houthi missile air strikes on Aden International Airport. Therefore, describing the two air strikes as "heinous" is exaggerated language.

‘Rage and disgust’: Yemen official slams Houthi strikes on Aden airport

Yemen’s deputy foreign minister has compared the Houthi missile-and-drone attack on Aden International Airport to acts carried out by the Israeli military.

“When Israel attacked civilian facilities in Yemen, every Yemeni and Arab condemned these acts and no party expressed support for them or took delight in them… And today the Houthi militia is imitating the attacks of the Israeli entity,” said Vice Foreign Minister Mustapha Noman in a statement.

“All the curses of the universe are not enough to express the rage and disgust toward this militia.”

The Houthis are firing stockpiles of missiles and drones “to destroy what Yemenis have built over decades”, Noman added.

See comment above.

Yemen’s Ministry of Human Rights condemns Houthi attack on Aden airport

The Ministry of Human Rights under Yemen’s internationally recognized government has condemned the missile attack by Houthi rebels on Aden International Airport.

In a statement carried by the Saba news agency, the ministry said a missile landed near the airport’s runway “minutes before Yemenia Airways flight 603 from Cairo was due to land with civilian passengers aboard”. It added that the attack also threatened travelers waiting for a flight to the Saudi city of Jeddah.

The ministry called the attack a “grave violation” of international humanitarian law, which prohibits attacks on civilians and civilian objects, saying it infringed citizens’ rights to life, security, and freedom of movement while threatening a vital gateway for travel, medical treatment, and return to the country.

The statement urged the international community and civil aviation bodies to condemn the attack and take practical steps to protect civilian facilities, and called on the UN Security Council to exert pressure to halt such attacks.

See comment above.

Yemen’s Ministry of Human Rights condemns Houthi attack on Aden airport

The Ministry of Human Rights under Yemen’s Saudi-backed government has condemned the missile attack by Houthi rebels on Aden International Airport.

In a statement carried by the Saba news agency, the ministry said a missile landed near the airport’s runway “minutes before Yemenia Airways flight 603 from Cairo was due to land with civilian passengers aboard”. It added that the attack also threatened travelers waiting for a flight to the Saudi city of Jeddah.

The ministry called the attack a “grave violation” of international humanitarian law, which prohibits attacks on civilians and civilian objects, saying it infringed citizens’ rights to life, security, and freedom of movement while threatening a vital gateway for travel, medical treatment, and return to the country.

The statement urged the international community and civil aviation bodies to condemn the attack and take practical steps to protect civilian facilities, and called on the UN Security Council to exert pressure to halt such attacks.

See comment above.

Yemeni foreign ministry condemns Houthi attack on Aden airport

The Yemeni Foreign Ministry has condemned the Houthis targeting of the airport in Aden earlier on Wednesday, adding that it “endangered” civilian lives.

In a statement posted on X, the ministry said it “strongly condemned the attack launched by the Iranian regime-backed Houthi terrorist militias on Aden International Airport, early today, using two ballistic missiles and explosive drones, coinciding with a civilian flight approaching for landing.”

It added that the attack “constitutes a dangerous escalation and a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.”

Yemen’s leader pledges to achieve full objectives of ‘Dawn of Yemen’ operation

Rashad al-Alimi, head of the internationally recognized Yemeni government’s Presidential Leadership Council, has made a statement about the government forces’ Dawn of Yemen operation:

• The operation is continuing until all its objectives are fully achieved.
• The goal is to recapture Sanaa and extend state control over all the country’s territory.
• The armed forces will continue to perform their duty until state institutions are restored and the liberation of the country is completed.
  Restoring the state is a shared national responsibility and not the sole task of the armed forces.
• The government will provide safety and amnesty to all those who abandon the Houthis and other militias, and return to the state.
• “Dawn of Yemen” is not just the name of a military operation, but a promise that this war will end with the Yemenis restoring their republic and their desired future.

Politics

UAE condemns Houthi attacks on Saudi vessels and civilian sites

The UAE has condemned the Houthi targeting of civilians and of civilian and economic facilities in Saudi Arabia, as well as Saudi vessels in the southern Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb strait.

In a statement on Wednesday, the UAE Foreign Ministry said the targeting is a “flagrant violation” of Saudi sovereignty and a threat to the kingdom’s security and stability.

The ministry reaffirmed the UAE’s “full solidarity” with Saudi Arabia and its support for all measures aimed at safeguarding the kingdom’s security and stability.

Qatari cabinet renews condemnation of Houthi attacks on Saudi power station

Qatar’s Cabinet has renewed the Gulf country’s condemnation “in the strongest terms” of Houthi attacks on a power station in Saudi Arabia’s Medina city.

That’s according to a statement of the Qatari Council of Ministers Secretariat General carried by the Qatar News Agency (QNA).

As we have been reporting, fighting between Houthi forces and the Saudi-backed internationally recognised government forces continues in Yemen.

Neighbouring Saudi Arabia said it downed a missile north of the country’s capital, Riyadh, earlier today.

Regional cooperation essential for lasting peace in Yemen: UN envoy

Regional and international commitment is key to solving the Yemeni conflict and bringing peace and stability to Yemen and its neighbors, according to Hans Grundberg, the UN envoy to the country.

Grundberg’s remarks came in a statement released by his office a day after he concluded a visit to Washington, where he held talks with officials and experts on the security implications of the war for the region.

"Regional .... commitment"

Is Grundberg (also) refering to the Mecca pact as a key to solve the Yemeni conflict?

GCC chief condemns Houthi attacks on Saudi airports

Jassim Mohammed al-Budaiwi, the secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), has strongly condemned the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia’s Abha and King Khalid airports, stating that they are “systematic crimes” targeting civilians.

Al-Budaiwi said in a statement that targeting civilian airports and “endangering the lives of travellers, workers and civilians represents a dangerous escalation and a flagrant violation of international laws and norms”.

He added that the GCC countries stand united with Saudi Arabia.

Jordan condemns deadly Houthi attacks on Saudi airports

Jordan’s Foreign Ministry has issued a statement condemning Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia’s Abha and King Khalid international airports.

Fouad al-Majali, the ministry’s spokesman, reaffirmed “Jordan’s absolute solidarity with Saudi Arabia, standing with it in all steps it takes to protect its security and stability, its interests, and the safety of its citizens and residents therein”.

At least three foreign nationals were killed in the attacks that took place on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority.

US denies Saudi Arabia’s request for military support against Yemen’s Houthis

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) of Saudi Arabia spoke directly on at least two occasions with US President Donald Trump to request military assistance.

The Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman spoke with his counterpart in the United States, Pete Hegseth, and requested that the US conduct military strikes in defence of Saudi Arabia.

All of those requests were rebuffed.

Instead, the Trump administration’s official position is that the focus right now is on its own conflict with Iran.

As a result, the only thing the US has provided in terms of support for Saudi Arabia has been targeted assistance, as well as intelligence.

Syrian presidential adviser denies reports Damascus was asked to send troops to Yemen

Ahmad Muaffaq Zaidan, media adviser to Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, has denied reports that Saudi Arabia asked Damascus to send Syrian forces to the kingdom or to Yemen.

In a post on X, Zaidan said Saudi and Gulf security are linked to Syria’s security, and that Damascus stood firmly with Saudi Arabia.

“What some media outlets are promoting about the kingdom requesting the deployment of Syrian forces to Saudi Arabia or Yemen is false and has no basis in truth,” he said.