Saudi Arabia, Yemeni Government Forces Clash with Houthi Rebels... "At Least 72 Killed"

[Financial News]  

Saudi Arabia and Yemeni government forces launched a large-scale attack on Houthi rebels on the 3rd (local time). The Houthi rebels said at least 72 people were killed.
As the Houthi rebels launched a counterattack, explosions were heard and fires were seen at Saudi Aramco's oil facilities south of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's capital.

Saudi Arabia and Yemeni government forces bombed the presidential palace and military camps in Sanaa, Yemen's rebel-held capital, and struck Saada in the north, destroying the rebels' communications network and missiles.
According to Al Jazeera, two Saudi fighter jets were seen launching missiles toward central Sanaa that day. A total of 26 airstrikes were carried out, and at least five loud explosions were heard.
Saudi Arabia targeted key military facilities, including Al-Sabeen, where the presidential palace is located, Hafa base in the east, and Faj Attan in the west.
According to Al Masirah TV, a Houthi rebel media outlet, hospital facilities including obstetrics and gynecology and pediatrics departments were also bombed, causing injuries.
Colonel Majed al-Nujailee, spokesman for the Yemeni government forces, said on social media platform X, "We attacked legitimate and key military targets in Sanaa."

The Houthi rebels launched large-scale retaliatory strikes against mainland Saudi Arabia.
Flames and smoke rose amid explosions at oil facilities south of Riyadh operated by Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia's state-owned oil company.
The Houthi rebels also claimed to have struck oil and sensitive facilities across Saudi Arabia, including in Riyadh, Najran, Jizan and Asir. They also said they had bombed major military bases in Khamis Mushait and Taif.

Clashes took place on key fronts, including Taiz and Al-Jawf.
Yemeni government forces, together with local tribal coalition forces, engaged in fierce clashes with the rebels and secured control of Sama Fortress southeast of Taiz and Jabal Azzan in the west.
Government forces repelled Houthi attacks in western Taiz, including at Jabal Han and Hazran, after hours of fighting.
On the Al-Jawf front, government forces shot down four Houthi drones, while heavy-artillery shelling and clashes continued in Al-Qadah, Kahbub and elsewhere.

According to the Health Ministry in Sanaa, which is controlled by the Houthi rebels, at least 72 people were killed and 125 were injured in the clashes.
Saudi Arabia's offensive was primarily aimed at securing control of the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. The goal was to retake control after the Houthi rebels gained de facto control of the strait by successively capturing Mocha port, Perim Island and the Hanish Islands in western Yemen.
It also represented a response to the attack on the East-West Pipeline, which bypasses the Strait of Hormuz, and threats to the Saudi mainland.
On the 10th of last month, the Houthi rebels carried out ballistic missile and drone attacks targeting major Saudi oil infrastructure, including the East-West Pipeline, and Riyadh.

[email protected] Song Kyung-jae Reporter