Legitimacy Forces Consolidate Gains on the West Coast... Advance in Marib
“Fajr al-Yemen” carries out 2,750 operations in a single day... Coalition destroys 136 Houthi targets
On the sixth day of the “Fajr al-Yemen” operation, the government armed forces, backed by the Coalition for the Support of Legitimacy, consolidated their gains on the western coast and strengthened their positions in areas overlooking the Bab al-Mandab Strait, while continuing their advance in the Waziriyah directorate in western Taiz Governorate, where clashes with the Houthi group continued, particularly in the southern suburbs of Taiz and on fronts surrounding the city.
The Yemeni Armed Forces stated that they are continuing their field advances on the western coast fronts and reinforcing their positions. They clarified that they foiled infiltration attempts by the Houthi group on the western coast fronts, confirming that they inflicted casualties and material losses on the group with air support from the Coalition forces.
They confirmed the completion of control over the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the strategic Mayun Island, and the consolidation of their positions on the heights overlooking the international shipping lane, a development that strengthens their positions on the western coast.
Government forces continued their operations on the Waziriyah front to the west, aiming to secure the highlands and tighten the noose around Houthi positions in the vicinity of Dhubab and Al-Amri Camp, paving the way for expanding their advance toward Al-Mukha, according to field data.
This coincided with the continuation of battles in the southern and western suburbs of Taiz, and the widening scope of airstrikes targeting Houthi positions and movements in several Yemeni governorates.
In Taiz city and its surroundings, military confrontations intensified. Government forces announced the takeover of strategic positions previously held by the Houthis, including the Waziriyah directorate center, while repelling a Houthi attack in the area of Al-Mawamid. This occurred alongside violent clashes against the group on fronts in Marib Governorate.
Legitimacy forces also announced the execution of approximately 2,750 precise targeting operations over the past 24 hours across various combat axes and fronts.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Coalition forces, Brigadier General Turki Al-Maliki, stated, “We are conducting a wide-ranging operation targeting the elements and capabilities of the terrorist Houthi militia. We have destroyed 136 military targets in areas under their control, and we are working to dismantle and destroy their ballistic missile network.”
He added that three missile launch pads used by the militia to threaten regional security were destroyed, emphasizing that “Houthi attacks on civilians and civilian objects will be met with a firm response.”
In a related development, the General Authority of Civil Aviation announced that King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was attacked on Saturday afternoon, amid ongoing blatant attacks targeting civil aviation facilities in the Kingdom. The attack resulted in several injuries, which are currently being tallied.
In a statement, the Authority clarified that “operational activities at the airport have been temporarily suspended pending the completion of damage assessment and verification of facility safety, in coordination with competent authorities.” The Saudi Foreign Ministry called on citizens whose flights were affected or who were unable to reach their destinations due to the suspension or delay of some flights bound for the airport to contact Saudi diplomatic missions in the countries where they are located to request assistance and receive necessary guidance.
Earlier, on Friday, the General Authority of Civil Aviation announced in a separate statement that King Khalid International Airport had been subjected to two attacks on Thursday evening. The first targeted the airport’s facilities, while the second struck a Saudi Airlines aircraft. Emergency teams and competent authorities were immediately mobilized to handle the incidents in accordance with approved plans and procedures.
According to the statement, “the two attacks resulted in the martyrdom of three Saudi citizens, including the aircraft captain, Hamoud bin Ali Al-Kathemi.”
She added, “The incident resulted in injuries to a number of citizens and residents of various nationalities, ranging from minor to severe. They were immediately transported to receive the necessary medical care, in addition to some material damage.”
At the United Nations, Saudi Ambassador Abdulaziz Al-Yousef stressed that “the Kingdom will not allow Yemen to be turned into a platform for threatening our security,” adding that “the Houthi militia continues to target civilian infrastructure and threatens civil aviation security,” while affirming the Kingdom’s inherent right to self-defense and to protect its security.
Condemnations from Gulf, Arab, and international quarters continued regarding the Houthi terrorist attacks on civilian targets in Saudi Arabia, the latest of which occurred Saturday afternoon at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. US President Donald Trump stated that the United States might participate in coalition strikes against rebels in Yemen.
Speaking at a press conference at the White House, he said, “We might do that. We will study the matter,” adding, “We just learned about the latest attack, so we will make a decision. We are moving very quickly.”
On Friday, Trump responded to a journalist’s question about his views on Houthi attacks on civilian targets in Saudi Arabia by saying, “It’s not a good thing (...) I’m not happy about it.”
Gulf, Arab, and international condemnations continued to pour in regarding the attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which were attributed to the Houthi terrorist militias and resulted in the martyrdom of three Saudis and injuries to a number of citizens and residents of various nationalities.
In a statement, GCC Secretary-General Jassem Al-Budaiwi expressed his deep condemnation and unequivocal denunciation of the terrorist attack carried out by the Houthi militia against the airport. He emphasized that the Houthi militia’s deliberate targeting of civilian airports and civilians necessitates serious international action and decisive measures to ensure deterrence and prevent the recurrence of such assaults, which violate the most basic humanitarian principles and international charters. The Secretary-General reaffirmed that Saudi security is an integral part of the security of the Gulf states, which stand in solidarity with and absolutely support it in all its steps to safeguard its security, protect its assets, and ensure the integrity of its territory.
Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, and other countries described these “attacks as a blatant violation of Saudi sovereignty.” In a phone call, Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi reaffirmed his country’s solidarity with the Kingdom and its rejection of targeting civilian facilities or compromising the security and safety of civilians.
Meanwhile, Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif affirmed his country’s steadfast solidarity with the leadership and people of Saudi Arabia, and its commitment to the provisions of the “Mecca Agreement for Joint Defense” and the recent decisions of the “Political and Defense Strategy Committee” emanating from it. He reiterated his country’s full support for the Kingdom’s legitimate right to defend its people and protect its cities and vital facilities, calling on the Houthi militias to immediately halt their attacks.
