Houthis claim major strike on Saudi-backed forces

Yemen’s Houthis said they carried out a major missile and drone strike on Saudi-backed troop movements in eastern Yemen, claiming the attack killed and wounded hundreds of fighters and destroyed camps, warehouses, vehicles and weapons. The group said it targeted concentrations in several locations, including Al Ruwayk, Al Abr and Al Thaniyah, and accused Saudi Arabia of preparing a new offensive against Houthi-held areas. The account could not be independently verified.

Government sources said at least 30 Yemeni troops were killed in attacks on military camps in Marib and Hadramout, with the toll possibly rising. The clashes add to a wider escalation in Yemen, where the Houthis have stepped up attacks on shipping and energy infrastructure linked to Saudi interests in the Red Sea. They say the strikes are retaliation for Saudi military actions in Yemen and part of their declared maritime blockade.

Saudi officials condemned the attacks, saying they threaten international shipping, regional stability and global energy supplies. Riyadh said security and emergency teams were deployed after the latest cross-border incidents, while air defenses stayed on alert. It also said shelling near the border injured civilians, including a child, and accused the Houthis of deliberately targeting populated areas.

The renewed fighting is unfolding amid broader regional tensions and concerns over the security of Red Sea trade routes and oil markets. Persian Gulf states have urged restraint and diplomacy, warning that continued attacks on shipping lanes and energy facilities could deepen instability as negotiations continue alongside ongoing military activity.