Yemeni rebels say Saudi Arabia launched 94 air strikes in 24 hours, red sea conflict escalates
Quick Look
- Yemen's Iran-backed rebel "Youth Movement" said it had been hit by 94 air strikes by Saudi forces in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of air strikes since the outbreak of the new round of fighting to 1,350.
- Regional and Western officials revealed that Saudi Arabia is planning to launch a new offensive in the coming weeks to ensure the safety of shipping in the Red Sea.
- The conflict has killed 80 combatants.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Saudi Arabia has intervened in Yemen's civil war since 2015, leading the internationally recognized Yemeni government against Iran-backed youth movement rebels. At that time, the youth movement had driven the Yemeni government out of the capital Sanaa.
(Central News Agency, Sana'a/Riyadh, comprehensive foreign news report on the 2nd) The war in Yemen has heated up again. The "Youth Movement" of the Yemeni rebels that supports Iran said today that it was hit by 94 air strikes by Saudi Arabian forces in the past 24 hours. Regional and Western officials revealed that Saudi Arabia is considering launching a new offensive in the coming weeks to ensure the safety of shipping in the Red Sea.
According to reports from Agence France-Presse and Reuters, the "Youth Movement" stated that since the outbreak of the new round of fighting, Saudi Arabia has carried out 1,350 air strikes on its strongholds, adding that the targets of these air strikes are spread across Yemen controlled by the "Youth Movement."
The two sides have recently clashed near the Red Sea, which is crucial for global energy transportation. Sources pointed out that 80 combatants have been killed in the past day.
Regional and Western officials pointed out that Saudi Arabia is planning to advance towards the coastal areas of Yemen to ensure the safety of Red Sea shipping, or launch attacks from multiple fronts simultaneously.
Six people familiar with the matter revealed that the operation is expected to be launched in the next few weeks and will be led by Yemeni forces operating on the ground and under the command of Saudi Arabia, and will also receive support from Saudi air strikes.
These people, who requested anonymity to discuss security matters, said the United States has provided intelligence to assist Saudi Arabia in its operations in Yemen; some Middle Eastern and European countries have mainly provided defensive military assistance to Saudi Arabia, and these Saudi allies are not expected to directly participate in the fighting.
Saudi Arabia intervened in the civil war in neighboring Yemen in 2015 and led an internationally recognized government in Yemen. At that time, the "youth movement" had expelled the Yemeni government from the capital Sanaa.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Saudi Arabia will launch a new wave of offensive against Yemen's coastal areas in the coming weeks
Very likely · Within weeks
Yemen conflict will lead to more combatant casualties
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- When will Saudi Arabia launch a new wave of offensive?
- What are the specific contents of U.S. intelligence support?
- To what extent is Red Sea shipping currently under threat?
