Day 222 | Houthis deny losing Red Sea territory, crude dips below $100
Yemen's Houthi movement on Tuesday rejected statements from Saudi-backed state forces claiming to have retaken key positions along the Red Sea coast, maintaining that Houthi fighters retain full control over their ground advances.
A Houthi spokesperson dismissed reports of government gains, asserting that rebel units continue to hold all territorial positions captured during recent offensives along the Red Sea corridor and near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The political and military denial follows intensive fighting along the coastal plain as Saudi-supported government troops launched counter-operations aimed at regaining control over crucial maritime approaches.
Alongside ground maneuvers, the Houthis claimed to have inflicted 200 casualties -killed or wounded- among Saudi Arabian security forces through targeted strikes against the kingdom's primary airport, a Saudi oil refinery, and multiple military sites.
Saudi authorities acknowledged cross-border aerial attacks targeting two domestic airports but disputed the casualty figures presented by Houthi military spokespersons.
Saudi officials stated that the strikes resulted in minor injuries to three people.
Despite the continuation of heavy combat along Yemen's Red Sea coast, global energy markets experienced a slight easing in prices on Tuesday.
The price of international benchmark Brent crude dropped below $100 a barrel.
Energy traders continue to monitor the Bab el-Mandeb Strait where Houthi forces and Saudi-backed troops remain locked in intense battles for territorial control.
Houthis launch missiles, drones targeting Aden airport
Houthis launched a targeted strike against Aden International Airport using ballistic missiles and explosive-laden drones, Yemen’s official news agency Saba reported Wednesday.
"The terrorist Houthi militias targeted Aden International Airport with two ballistic missiles and explosive-laden drones," the news agency stated in an official release on X.
The media office of Aden's security department confirmed that the attack occurred early Wednesday, adding that initial assessments recorded no casualties at the country's primary international aviation hub.
Aden International Airport serves as the primary gateway and critical civil aviation link for regions outside Houthi control.
The strike reflects a wider escalation in cross-border and regional military engagements involving Houthi drone and missile capabilities against government infrastructure and regional targets.
Security forces in the southern port city remain on high alert following the interception attempt and subsequent damage control measures across the airfield perimeter.
"You remember Khomeini? They're all gone": Trump highlights leadership void in Iran
Addressing supporters during an event in Maryland, US President Donald Trump pointed to a complete destruction of Iran's top leadership structure following military operations, quipping, "You remember Khomeini? They're all gone". Trump stated that American armed forces had eliminated "dozens of Iran's terrorist leaders" into "the gates of hell," adding that while it leaves Washington unsure of who is currently governing the country, the resulting leadership vacuum may ultimately work in America's favor.
Saudi intercepts Houthi ballistic missile over Riyadh
Forces belonging to the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis toward the northern area of Riyadh, the coalition announced.
Major General Turki Al-Malki, official spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition, confirmed the operational response, stating that air defense systems successfully neutralized the airborne threat before it could reach populated civilian areas.
Al-Malki added that coalition intelligence systems are actively monitoring the designated launch platform over Sanaa, emphasizing that joint forces are moving to strike and eliminate the site.
The official statement highlighted that coalition monitoring and surveillance networks immediately detected the projectile upon launch from the Yemeni capital, Sanaa.
General Al-Malki reiterated that coalition forces maintain real-time intelligence coverage over military movements in Houthi-controlled territories to neutralize threats targeting Saudi Arabian cities and infrastructure.
The attempted strike on the Saudi capital comes amid an ongoing escalation in cross-border engagements.
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Read more: Day 221 | Houthis claim strike on Saudi's King Khalid airport
