Erbil: Houthi forces launched a wave of coordinated strikes early on Tuesday against Saudi-backed government troops across northern and eastern Yemen, triggering severe clashes in key provinces. Military spokesperson Yahya Saree announced in an official statement that the armed group carried out dozens of targeted operations hitting enemy positions and reinforcement routes in the strategic al-Jawf and Marib governorates. The offensive marks a sharp escalation in regional fighting as the warring factions compete for control over heavily fortified desert corridors and crucial logistical lines.

Massive Casualties Claimed in Unprecedented Offensives

According to Houthi military statements published by regional news networks, more than 200 Saudi-backed personnel were either killed or wounded during the intense multi-hour assault. Saree emphasised the scale of the operations, asserting that the losses inflicted on enemy reinforcements were unprecedented in terms of both personnel and military equipment compared to all previous engagements in the region. The group claimed that precision artillery and missile strikes directly targeted moving supply convoys and troop gatherings, resulting in widespread destruction of armoured vehicles and transport assets.

Contested Territory and Regional Implications

The retaliatory barrage comes amidst broader troop movements across central Yemen, where coalition-aligned government forces have attempted to consolidate positions and halt insurgent advances. While Houthi leadership framed the strikes as a decisive blow to opposition momentum in eastern al-Jawf and Marib, independent verification of the exact casualty figures remains difficult due to restricted access along active battlefronts. The resurgence of large-scale combat threatens to derail tenuous local truce arrangements, heightening concerns over renewed destabilisation across northern Yemen.