Houthi forces conducted ballistic missile strikes against al-Makha and Marib, according to Yemen’s internationally recognised government forces. The attacks on Monday followed a previous day’s assault on al-Makha that resulted in at least seven deaths and 30 wounded, along with significant damage to the city’s port infrastructure. Government officials did not immediately confirm casualty figures from the Monday strikes.
In additional operations, Houthi drone strikes killed two government soldiers and wounded seven others in Shabwa province, as reported by local media. In response, Yemeni government forces reported conducting operations against Houthi positions and facilities in al-Jawf, Saada, and Marib provinces.
These exchanges represent the most severe fighting in Yemen’s civil conflict in recent years and signal a marked intensification following developments on July 13, when a Saudi airstrike damaged the runway at Sanaa airport. The incident prevented an Iranian aircraft carrying a Houthi delegation from landing. Following this strike, the Iran-backed Houthis announced a blockade of Saudi shipping in the Red Sea and launched attacks on Saudi infrastructure, including the Abha airport and oil facilities.
The Saudi-led coalition has responded with airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas including Hodeidah and Kamaran Island, while simultaneously reinforcing government troops positioned along frontlines to support ground operations. A UN envoy issued a warning regarding the escalation, noting that Yemen now faces heightened risks of large-scale renewed conflict unseen since the April 2022 truce. The envoy cautioned that further escalation threatens to undermine gains achieved through that agreement and could draw the country into broader regional confrontation with severe humanitarian consequences.
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