Houthis under fire: Yemeni army launches offensive
The Yemeni army has announced a multi-front military operation against the Houthis following recent attacks. Simultaneously, the UAE accused Iran of a missile strike on an ADNOC vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, while another ship was hit near Oman.
The Yemeni army, affiliated with the recognized government, announced on Saturday that it had carried out a military operation against Houthi forces and equipment on several fronts. The move comes against the backdrop of a sharp escalation in recent days and repeated attacks by the Iran-backed rebels against government forces and civilians.
A spokesperson for the Yemeni armed forces stated that the operation was conducted in several areas along the contact lines under unified command and control. The military clarified that it would continue to respond to further attacks against its forces.
The offensive follows days of significant escalation. According to reports, the Houthis carried out attacks using missiles and UAVs in the Marib area, where forces affiliated with the Saudi-backed government are stationed. The Yemeni army stated that the current operation is a direct response to ongoing Houthi attacks in Marib and Hadhramaut.
The renewed conflict in Yemen is taking place in parallel with a serious escalation on regional shipping lanes. The United Arab Emirates accused Iran today of attacking a vessel linked to the state oil company ADNOC while it was passing through the Strait of Hormuz. According to Reuters, Abu Dhabi claimed the vessel was struck by a missile while navigating the strategic maritime route. No casualties were reported.
Hours after the incident involving the ADNOC vessel, another maritime event was recorded. A ship was hit by a projectile of unknown origin about 18 nautical miles east of Khasab, Oman. A fire broke out on deck but was subsequently extinguished. According to the British maritime trade center UKMTO, the vessel and crew are safe, and no environmental damage was reported.
The Strait of Hormuz remains at the center of the regional conflict. Before the war, a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas traffic passed through the narrow passage between Iran and Oman, and since the outbreak of the conflict, traffic has been repeatedly disrupted by attacks and threats against commercial vessels.
