War in Yemen intensifies, youth movement launches more attacks on Saudi Arabia

The conflict in Yemen intensified today as government forces launched an attack on the Iranian-backed Shiite militant group Youth Movement rebels on the Red Sea coast, while the youth movement opened fire on neighboring Saudi Arabia, which supports the Yemeni government.

The Associated Press reported that Yemeni officials admitted that the Houthis' capture of the strategic port of Mokha and an island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait last week was a "tragic" defeat, and the government vowed to send more troops to the Red Sea coast. The Strait of Bab el-Mandeb is a shipping artery that replaces the Strait of Hormuz.

The escalation has added pressure on global oil supplies and prices and could give Iran leverage in its war with the United States, especially as youth movements attack Saudi Arabia's oil infrastructure and shipping in the Red Sea.

Saudi authorities sounded an alert in the southern city of Abha and Khamis Mushait this afternoon, reminding people to take shelter in case of attacks. Both places have been attacked several times by youth movements in recent weeks.

The youth movement has claimed to use drones and missiles to attack Saudi Arabia, including a military base near the Yemeni border. However, Yahya Saree, the youth movement's military spokesman, did not provide evidence or specify the time of the attack.

Saudi Arabia has not announced a new offensive against the youth movement.

The youth movement has launched attacks on Saudi oil facilities and shipping as part of a recently announced blockade, but has stressed it has no intention of threatening commercial shipping from other countries.

The National Resistance Force, an allied force of the Yemeni government that once controlled the coastal areas, said more than 500 government fighters have been killed on the west coast in the past four weeks. This is the first time relevant data has been made public.

The National Resistance Army also stated that more than 1,000 members of the youth movement were killed in Hodeida and Taiz provinces. A spokesman for the youth movement did not respond to a request for comment.

A senior Yemeni government official said troops would return to the Red Sea coast to launch a counterattack. Residents who fled as the youth movement advanced told The Associated Press that people were urged to take shelter as the troops withdrew.

Sultan al-Arada, a member of the Presidential Leadership Council, described the loss of the port of Moga and Yemen's western coast to government forces as "painful and regrettable." He said in a television interview broadcast yesterday that the troops "are currently regrouping and will return to combat soon". (Compiled by: He Hongru) 1150914