Coalition launches major offensive, destroys 136 Houthi military targets

RIYADH — The Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen announced Friday night that it had launched a large-scale military operation against the Houthis, destroying 136 military targets in areas under the group's control.

Coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki said the operation was targeting Houthi fighters and military capabilities as part of an intensified campaign supporting Yemeni government forces.

In statements posted on X, the coalition confirmed that it was providing round-the-clock air support to Yemeni government forces across multiple battlefronts.

Al-Maliki said coalition forces were also working to dismantle and destroy the Houthis' ballistic missile network, targeting the group's ability to launch further attacks.

The announcement came as Yemeni government forces intensified their offensive under Operation Dawn of Yemen, a military campaign launched earlier this week to recapture Houthi-held territory and restore government control.

Earlier Friday, Yemeni Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Majed Abdullah Al-Nadhib said government forces had conducted more than 2,750 strikes against Houthi positions during the previous 24 hours.

Citing preliminary battlefield assessments, Al-Nadhib claimed that more than 1,400 Houthi fighters had been neutralized, while over 250 military vehicles and pieces of equipment were destroyed or damaged.

The coalition has been providing air support to Yemeni government forces as they advance against Houthi positions, with the offensive ultimately aimed at recapturing the capital Sanaa and restoring state institutions.

Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi announced Operation Dawn of Yemen on Monday as part of efforts to end Houthi control over government-held territories.