️ Forces aligned with Yemen’s government reported on Thursday that they successfully intercepted a drone heading towards Medina and a missile fired in the direction of Riyadh. This development unfolds amid a severe escalation in fighting between government troops and the Houthi movement along Yemen’s western Red Sea coast, alongside expanding Houthi drone and missile attacks targeting oil installations and airports inside neighboring Saudi Arabia.
️ On Wednesday, Yahya Saree, the military spokesperson for the Houthis, claimed responsibility for what he described as a high-precision military operation targeting Aramco facilities in Dhahran, alongside strikes on Riyadh's international airport and a capital refinery. Saree warned that these offensive operations would continue in the coming days. Meanwhile, a Saudi Ministry of Energy official confirmed that an Aramco building in Dhahran was struck, causing a limited fire but resulting in no casualties.
️ In response, the Saudi-led coalition launched retaliatory airstrikes against Houthi strongholds in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa, which has remained under insurgent control since 2014. The fragile ceasefire brokered previously has entirely broken down in recent months, transforming the conflict into a tit-for-tat exchange of aerial blows. Observers note that the strategy of the Iran-aligned group aims to match firepower with firepower, targeting critical economic and logistical nodes within the kingdom.
️ The growing frequency of attacks has imposed heavy economic and operational costs on the Saudi regime. Riyadh international airport remains shut down as multiple carriers cancel flights, emptying the skies over the capital. Major upcoming economic summits and international sports tournaments face severe disruption or rescheduling due to the deteriorating security environment. Concurrently, pro-government Yemeni forces have pressed forward with a sweeping counteroffensive dubbed 'Dawn of Yemen' to reclaim coastal territory near the vital Bab al-Mandeb strait.
Source: www.aljazeera.com