Yemeni government forces announced they had successfully defended positions in Marib province against Houthi attacks, with military officials stating that troops supported by air and drone strikes had engaged in prolonged combat operations. According to government statements, forces were simultaneously advancing into Houthi-held territory in al-Jawf province as part of the “Dawn of Yemen” operation, which commenced more than a month prior and aims to reclaim areas controlled by the militant group.
Government military spokesperson Colonel Majed al-Nazili reported that on Saturday, forces conducted 875 attacks targeting Houthi positions, claiming to have neutralized approximately 130 Houthi personnel and destroying or disabling 50 vehicles and missile launchers. Al Jazeera was unable to independently confirm these assertions.
A separate incident on Saturday saw strikes kill at least 27 people and wound about 30 others in Sanaa province, according to reports from the Houthi-operated Saba news agency. Health officials in Sanaa stated the attacks targeted al-Shariya village north of the capital, with most casualties reported to be women and children. The Iran-backed Houthis attributed responsibility to the Saudi-led coalition backing government forces and vowed retaliation, while Saudi Arabia and Yemeni government officials did not comment on the reported strikes.
The competing claims reflected a broader pattern of blame-shifting in the conflict. Al Jazeera correspondent reporting from Sanaa noted that Houthis attributed 55 civilian deaths over the previous two days to Saudi airstrikes, whereas Yemeni government officials held the Houthis accountable for most casualties. The Houthis separately claimed six separate attacks on Saudi targets using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones, including strikes on Riyadh’s King Khalid international airport and oil facilities, though they provided no timing details. Coalition spokesman Colonel Turki al-Malki stated that forces had intercepted a Houthi ballistic missile over the Riyadh region early on Saturday.
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