Fighting in Yemen intensified over the past week as the Houthis consolidated gains along the Red Sea coast and expanded missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia, while Saudi-backed government forces tried to regain ground on several fronts.
By September 12, the Houthis had consolidated their capture of Mokha and Perim Island at the entrance to the Bab al-Mandab Strait, leaving government forces regrouping after the collapse of positions along much of the western coast.
Government forces said they would return to the battle, while airstrikes hit Houthi positions around Mokha, Dhubab and elsewhere in Taiz.
On September 13, the Houthis announced a ballistic missile and drone attack on a Saudi military base in Sharurah, in Najran province, saying weapons depots and command-and-control centers were targeted.
Saudi authorities said a projectile struck Jazan near the Yemeni border, injuring two people and damaging a mosque and other buildings. The Houthis also said Saudi Arabia had carried out more than 50 strikes against their positions during the previous 24 hours.
The same day, Saudi-backed Yemeni forces reported their first significant battlefield gains since the coastal offensive, saying they recaptured positions overlooking the Jardad area in western Taiz and advanced toward Gail Bani Omar. Saudi warplanes also struck Houthi positions and gatherings in several parts of Taiz.
On September 14, the Houthis announced a large missile and drone operation against King Khalid Air Base at Khamis Mushait, claiming they targeted aircraft hangars, radar installations, runways and ammunition depots. Saudi authorities said Houthi attacks on Khamis Mushait, Abha and Taif caused 13 injuries and damaged homes and vehicles.
The very next day, Saudi Arabia activated security alerts across several areas, including Mecca and Jeddah, amid continued threats. Saudi authorities subsequently said air defenses intercepted a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered restricted airspace. The Houthis denied attempting to target the holy city.
On September 16, the Houthis announced strikes on the Aramco facility at Yanbu and again on Khamis Mushait. They also shot down a Saudi F-15 over Marib with a locally made surface-to-air missile and released footage of the wreckage.
The Houthis said Saudi warplanes had carried out more than 450 strikes across seven Yemeni provinces during the week. For the following 24-hour period, they reported another 40 strikes in Taiz, Marib and Hodeidah.
The Houthis maintain the upper hand on the ground, and the group is steadily increasing its strikes on Saudi Arabia. Still, the kingdom could escalate by resuming full-on military operations in Yemen. This could, however, backfire as Saudi troops will suffer heavy losses.
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