Houthis say 28 Saudi airstrikes hit Yemen as fighting continues on multiple fronts

Yemens Houthi group has said that Saudi Arabia carried out 28 airstrikes across three provinces in the past 24 hours as fighting between the group and forces aligned with Yemens internationally recognised government continued on several frontsHouthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said on Sunday that the strikes targeted Taiz Marib and AlJawf provinces The claim has not been independently verified and Saudi authorities had not immediately commented on the figuresHouthis report 28 Saudi airstrikesSarea said in a statement that F15 and Typhoon fighter jets operating from Saudi air bases at Khamis Mushait and Taif carried out the strikesHe said the latest operations brought the cumulative number of airstrikes since the latest escalation began to 760The Houthi statement did not provide details of casualties or the extent of damage caused by the reported strikesAirstrikes reported in AlJawf and SaadaHouthirun AlMasirah television separately reported that an airstrike struck a telecommunications tower in AlJawf It also reported artillery fire in areas of northern Saada province near the Saudi borderThe reports came amid renewed fighting across several parts of Yemen with both sides continuing military operations as the conflict has intensified in recent weeksThe latest escalation has revived concerns that Yemens conflict could return to the level of fighting seen before the UNbrokered truce in 2022Fighting continues across TaizGround fighting has also continued in southwestern Yemen particularly in Taiz provinceA government military source told Xinhua that government forces had retaken several positions in western Taiz The source said however that the broader front lines had remained largely unchanged amid continued fightingThe renewed fighting follows a rapid Houthi advance along Yemens Red Sea coast earlier this month The group captured the strategic port city of Mocha on September 10 before extending its advance towards the Bab alMandeb StraitHouthis expand control along Red Sea coastThe Houthis subsequently took control of Dhubab and Mayyun Island also known as Perim Island according to reports Their advance has brought them closer to the strategically important Bab alMandeb Strait a major maritime route connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of AdenThe rapid territorial gains have forced large numbers of civilians to flee their homes Reuters reported that more than 115000 people had been displaced by the renewed fighting with many seeking shelter in other parts of Yemen or crossing to DjiboutiThe developments have also raised concerns about international shipping and regional energy supplies because of the strategic importance of the Red Sea and Bab alMandebConflict dates back to 2014Yemens conflict began in late 2014 when the Houthis seized Sanaa and large parts of northern Yemen Saudi Arabia subsequently led a military coalition that intervened in March 2015 in support of the internationally recognised governmentA UNbrokered truce in 2022 significantly reduced major fighting although a formal permanent peace agreement was not reachedWith inputs from IANS