Yemeni Government Forces Seize Strategic Houthi Camp as Aramco Refinery Hit
Yemeni government forces captured the strategic Al-Labnat military camp in Al-Jawf province from Houthi rebels, while a Houthi missile and drone strike targeted Saudi Aramco's Jizan refinery.
Government Forces Seize Strategic Al-Labnat Camp
The internationally recognized government forces of Yemen announced on Sunday that they have captured the strategic Al-Labnat military camp in the northern Al-Jawf province, a major stronghold of the Iran-backed Houthi militia.
Yemeni military sources reported that government troops surrounded the camp and are currently advancing toward Al-Hazm, the capital of the northeastern province. Yemeni military spokesperson Majed al-Nazili stated that "advanced capabilities" were deployed in the operation, which successfully neutralized key Houthi military assets.
Houthi Strikes Target Saudi Aramco Refinery
Meanwhile, media outlets reported a fresh strike on the Saudi Aramco energy corporation refinery in the Jizan province. This is the latest in a series of Houthi attacks that have left the facility, which has a capacity of 400,000 barrels per day, largely offline for weeks.
The Houthis claimed they launched dozens of ballistic missiles and drones at the site on Saturday, calling it retaliation for Saudi drone incursions over Yemen. The refinery has not been fully operational since late July, when previous strikes damaged its tank farm and power complex.
Clashes Intensify Near Strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait
Over the weekend, the Houthis launched a large-scale offensive targeting the strategic port city of Al-Mukha in western Yemen, but were repelled by government forces. Arab media reports indicate that the initiative has now shifted to government troops, who are reclaiming territories from the pro-Iranian militia.
The port city of Al-Mukha is highly strategic. Located just north of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, it serves as a critical gateway to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. Control of this coastline by the Houthis would allow them to disrupt international shipping, mirroring the actions of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to news agencies, the ground clashes have claimed at least 129 lives since Thursday, with approximately half of the casualties identified as government soldiers. While the Houthis initially managed to seize several positions in Taiz province, the Saudi news channel Al-Arabiya reported that government forces successfully halted their multi-axis advance.
Military sources in Yemen confirmed that government troops recaptured several positions and killed dozens of Houthi fighters in Taiz province. These sources estimate that military experts from Iran's IRGC are actively participating in directing Houthi operations in Taiz. Additionally, the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat reported that government forces secured territorial gains, supported by intensified coalition airstrikes aimed at severing Houthi supply lines.
