Conflicts Intensified in Yemen: Government Forces Reached Moha, Houthis Targeted Saudi Arabia

It was reported that Saudi Arabia-backed Yemeni government forces made rapid progress on the coastline around the Bab al-Mandab Strait and reached the city of Moha. Government sources claimed that the Houthis were expelled from most of the areas they captured last month.

Following the developments, the Iran-backed Houthis announced that they carried out attacks on critical points in Saudi Arabia. Houthis; He claimed that they targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Aramco refinery in Rabig, Abha International Airport and Khamis Mushait Military Base.

It could not be confirmed by independent sources whether the attacks in question took place or not. The Saudi Arabian administration and Aramco did not make a statement on the issue at the first stage.

It was reported that forces affiliated with the internationally recognized Yemeni government advanced to the outskirts of Moha on Monday, with the support of intense air strikes by Saudi Arabia.

Four government sources speaking to Reuters stated that Houthi fighters withdrew from the coastline and headed towards higher areas. Yemen Ministry of Defense announced that Moha was under the control of government forces.

It is considered that if the developments in the field are independently verified, the Houthis' pressure on one of the critical oil and trade routes in the Red Sea may decrease. However, it is stated that the Houthis can maintain their capacity to target ships with unmanned aerial vehicles from different regions.

CONFLICTS INTENSE FOR BABÜLMENDEP

The civil war in Yemen, which has been continuing at low intensity for a long time, has intensified again in recent weeks as the conflict between the USA and Iran spread to the region.

It is reported that the Houthis are trying to increase their control over the Bab al-Mandab Strait and are also attacking cities and infrastructure facilities in Saudi Arabia with missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.

The coalition led by Saudi Arabia also announced that a military operation was carried out with the participation of naval elements in Yemen's Hudaydah province on the Red Sea coast on Monday.

Government forces had previously captured strategic points, including an airstrip in the Zubab region at the entrance of Bab al-Mandab. The Houthis' control of the region last month caused concern in the energy markets.

It has been reported that the Houthis, who have retreated along the coastline, have made progress around Taiz, the country's third largest city.

Five military sources affiliated with the Yemeni government said that the Houthis have taken control of some roads in the mountainous region, narrowing the area of ​​action of government forces in Taiz. A government source rejected the claim that the road was completely blocked.

A news agency affiliated with the Houthis also claimed that the group repelled government forces in the Al-Mawasit region in Taiz province and advanced as far as the area where the house of Rashad al-Alimi, Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Council, is located.

According to government sources, Houthi pressure in the city of Taiz, where more than 500 thousand people live, is increasing.

THEY ALSO THREATENED THE AIRSPACE IN SAUDI ARABIA

The Houthis have also threatened to target air traffic in Saudi Arabian airspace.

As the conflicts escalated, an emergency meeting was held in Riyadh within the scope of the Mecca Pact, to which Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan are parties.

Making a statement after the meeting, Saudi Arabian Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman announced that the party countries agreed to act jointly against the attacks of the Houthis.

Bin Salman stated that at the meeting, the solidarity and unity of the three countries against the Houthis' "heinous attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the holy sites" was once again confirmed.

The Saudi Minister stated that decisions regarding the activation of common defense mechanisms against attacks were one of the main agenda items of the meeting.

Prince Khalid bin Salman announced that the Strategic Political and Defense Committee within the Mecca Alliance agreed on joint action against the attacks.

Bin Salman stated that the committee agreed on "the introduction of collective deterrence measures within the framework of the Alliance against attacks and anyone responsible for these attacks."

The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, signed in August, stipulates that an armed attack against any of the three countries will be considered an attack against all parties.

184 THOUSAND PEOPLE WERE DISPLACED

Renewed conflicts have worsened conditions in Yemen, which is already experiencing a severe humanitarian crisis.

The United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced that approximately 184 thousand people have been displaced since the restart of the war.

Yemen's internationally recognized Presidential Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi said in a statement on Sunday that the fight against the Houthis will continue "until the country is freed from the control of the militias."

Saudi Arabia also announced that it hit hundreds of targets to provide air support to Yemeni government forces around Bab al-Mandab.

The Ministry of Health, affiliated with the Houthis, reported that two people died and seven people were injured in the attacks on Sanhan and Savan regions of Sanaa province.