Yemen’s Houthi group claimed to have shot down a Saudi-operated reconnaissance drone over Al-Jawf province. The drone was targeted during what the group termed as “hostile operations” in the area. Separately, a security incident involving a tanker was reported in the southern Red Sea near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
The Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Sarea, announced the downing of the drone using “appropriate weaponry.” Meanwhile, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported a security incident after a tanker observed a projectile splash near the vessel in the Red Sea. Fortunately, the vessel and its crew remained unharmed.
Following the Houthi group’s declaration of a maritime ban on Saudi-linked shipping, tensions escalated. The Houthis also claimed responsibility for attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. In response, a Saudi-led coalition conducted airstrikes on Houthi-held areas in Yemen.
Recent airstrikes targeted Houthi military sites in northern Yemen, as reported by state-run Yemen TV. Additionally, the Houthis launched missile and drone strikes on Saudi energy facilities in Jizan and Yanbu regions. The conflict in Yemen began in late 2014 when the Houthis seized control of northern regions, leading to intervention by a Saudi-led coalition in 2015.
Despite a UN-mediated truce expiring in 2022, a fragile de-facto ceasefire has largely held. The recent escalation has sparked concerns over regional security and the safety of Red Sea shipping routes. The Houthi group’s retaliatory attacks on Saudi energy facilities followed overnight airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition on Houthi-held areas in western Yemen.
