**Houthis Accuse Saudi Arabia of Launching 26 Strikes in 24 Hours Amid Escalating Conflict**
Yemen's Houthi rebels have reported that Saudi Arabia conducted 26 airstrikes against territories under their control within a 24-hour period, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two sides. This claim comes as the Houthis assert that Saudi strikes have totaled around 300 in the past week alone, targeting various positions across Houthi-held regions.
The conflict has intensified recently, with both sides exchanging attacks and casualties. On Friday, the Yemeni government, which is backed by Saudi Arabia, announced that its forces had killed 30 Houthi fighters and injured over 60 during clashes in the al-Wazi’iyah district of Taiz province. This area has seen increased military activity as fighting escalates across multiple fronts.
In a show of solidarity, tens of thousands of supporters of the Houthi movement marched through the capital, Sanaa, on Friday. The demonstrators expressed their support for the Iran-aligned group and voiced opposition to Saudi Arabia's military intervention in Yemen. The Houthis have made significant territorial gains, controlling large stretches of Yemen’s Red Sea coast, including the strategically important Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
The recent surge in violence has resulted in civilian casualties, with reports indicating that at least five individuals, including three children, lost their lives amid the clashes. Saudi Arabia reported one fatality in the Taif governorate, attributed to the interception of a Houthi drone, while Houthi-affiliated media cited deaths from Saudi airstrikes in Taiz and the town of Abs.
The escalating conflict has drawn international attention, particularly from the United States. U.S. officials recently met with Houthi representatives in Muscat, Oman, amid concerns regarding the implications of the Houthis' territorial advancements for maritime security in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a critical passage for global trade. The Houthis reportedly assured U.S. officials that they would not target vessels not associated with Saudi Arabia.
Despite ongoing appeals from Riyadh for direct military action against the Houthis, the U.S. has refrained from escalating its involvement, mindful of the complexities of the broader regional conflict, particularly its ongoing tensions with Iran.
In response to the deteriorating situation, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced that the EU's naval mission in the Red Sea, known as Operation Aspides, has heightened its alert level. Kallas condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia as "unacceptable" and emphasized their detrimental impact on the global economy. She has been in discussions with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud regarding diplomatic efforts aimed at ceasing hostilities in Yemen and ensuring the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
As the conflict continues, the humanitarian situation in Yemen remains dire, with millions of civilians caught in the crossfire and facing severe shortages of food, healthcare, and basic services. The international community is increasingly calling for a resolution to the conflict, highlighting the urgent need for diplomatic solutions to restore peace and stability in the region.