The Yemeni capital of Sanaa was rocked by loud explosions on Saturday, as the Houthi rebels reported air strikes by Saudi forces in the area. According to eyewitnesses, at least five blasts were heard in different areas of the city, while two warplanes were seen firing missiles on the city. The Houthi-affiliated media outlet, Al-Masirah TV, reported "Saudi aggression" against the capital, but did not provide details on the targets or casualties.
This is not the first time Sanaa has been bombed in recent weeks. On Thursday night, Saudi Arabia carried out air strikes on the capital for the first time since renewed fighting broke out between the two sides in July. The Houthis claim that the air strikes have been targeting their strongholds, including the northwestern governorate of Saada. The telecommunications network in the area was also reportedly hit by missile strikes on Saturday.
The renewed fighting in Yemen began in July, when Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who control most of northwest Yemen, including Sanaa, clashed with the internationally recognised government, which is backed by neighbouring Saudi Arabia. The government, based in the city of Aden, controls much of the country's south and east. The conflict was reignited after Iran sent a plane to Sanaa carrying a Houthi delegation, which contravened a decade-long practice of seeking authorisation from Saudi Arabia.
Since then, fighting has intensified, with the Houthis launching a lightning offensive that saw them seize control of coastal regions along the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait. They have also struck multiple Saudi targets, including oil infrastructure and the capital Riyadh, while announcing a naval blockade on Saudi ships in the Red Sea. The Houthis have also been involved in fierce battles with government forces in the city of Taiz.
The battle for Taiz has been intense, with 80 combatants reported dead on Friday, according to sources on both sides. The Houthis reported 55 of their fighters had been killed, while government sources told AFP that 26 troops had died. The city of Taiz is Yemen's third-largest after Sanaa and Aden, and its control remains a key objective for both sides.
The conflict has also spilled over into neighbouring countries, with Saudi Arabia reporting that a Houthi projectile had damaged a school in the city of Najran near the Yemen border. Riyadh has reportedly requested help from the United States, but this has been rebuffed by US President Donald Trump. However, top cabinet members in the Trump administration met to discuss Yemen, as well as the Iran conflict, on Friday.
The situation on the ground remains volatile, with flames and smoke seen rising from a facility belonging to Saudi oil giant Aramco south of the kingdom's capital Riyadh on Saturday. The circumstances of the incident are still unclear, but it is the latest in a series of attacks on Aramco facilities by the Houthis. Both the Houthis and Saudi authorities have yet to comment on the incident.
Key points
- The Houthi rebels have launched a series of attacks on Saudi targets, including oil infrastructure and the capital Riyadh.
- The conflict in Yemen has intensified since July, with the Houthis seizing control of coastal regions and announcing a naval blockade on Saudi ships.
- The battle for the city of Taiz has been fierce, with 80 combatants reported dead on Friday.
