Houthis claim large-scale missile, drone attacks on govt forces in Yemen

Sanaa: Yemen’s Houthi group claimed Thursday that it has carried out a large-scale military operation using ballistic missiles and drones against government forces in the eastern provinces of Marib and Hadramout, claiming “hundreds of casualties.”

Earlier in the day, a military official told Xinhua that at least 35 Yemeni government soldiers were killed and scores of others wounded in drone attacks on military positions across Marib and Hadramout.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the attacks struck military barracks and positions at several locations across the two provinces, including bases of the newly-formed, Saudi-backed Yemeni emergency forces.

Some of the wounded are in critical condition, the official said, adding that ballistic missiles were believed to have been used in some of the attacks.

Meanwhile, the Yemeni emergency forces confirmed that several military camps and units, including positions belonging to its 1st Division, have been attacked, causing casualties and material losses, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The attacks followed recent security operations by government forces against criminal networks and smuggling groups operating in the region, the emergency forces said.

The Houthi group said Wednesday it had targeted a Saudi oil tanker with a ballistic missile in the Gulf of Aden, several hours after claiming a separate missile attack on another Saudi tanker in the northern Red Sea.

In a statement posted on social media platform X, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said the tanker, identified as “Daisy,” was hit by a ballistic missile and “forced to turn back.”

Sarea said the attack was part of the group’s declared maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia under a “blockade-for-blockade” policy.

He said Houthi forces are closely monitoring Saudi oil tankers and will block their passage through the southern and northern Red Sea until what they call a blockade on Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen is lifted.

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said a tanker reported hearing a loud explosion nearby while sailing in the Gulf of Aden off Yemen’s southern coast on Wednesday, adding that all crew were safe.

Earlier in the day, the Houthis said they had targeted the Saudi oil tanker “Wafa” with several ballistic missiles off the Saudi port city of Yanbu in the northern Red Sea. Sarea called the strike “precise,” without providing further details.

IANS