Yemeni military says 558 Houthis ‘neutralized’ in 1,164 strikes over 24 hours

Yemen’s armed forces said Monday they had “neutralized” 558 Houthi fighters, including field commanders, and destroyed or damaged 135 military vehicles and pieces of equipment in 1,164 strikes carried out over the past 24 hours as part of an intensified offensive against the Iran-backed militia.

Colonel Majed al-Nuzaily, a spokesman for the Yemeni armed forces, said government troops had seized the initiative and expanded offensive operations under Operation Dawn of Yemen, targeting Houthi positions and reinforcements across multiple fronts.

In a post on X, al-Nuzaily said the strikes involved warplanes, drones, field artillery, rocket launchers and snipers, targeting Houthi troop concentrations, military vehicles, fortifications, firing positions and supply routes.

In Taiz, government assault units captured additional positions and forced Houthi fighters to retreat under intensive air and artillery support, according to the spokesman.

He said government forces also maintained offensive pressure on the southern fronts and in Shabwa, restricting the militia’s movements and preventing it from reorganizing its formations or deploying reserve forces.

Along the western front, including coastal areas and the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait, government forces repelled Houthi advances and established fire control over key routes used by the militia.

Al-Nuzaily said troops also struck Houthi assembly areas and firing positions, disrupting the militia’s ability to reinforce its forces.

The operations resulted in the “neutralization” of 558 Houthi fighters, including field commanders, and the destruction or damage of 135 military vehicles and pieces of equipment, he said.

Al-Nuzaily said government forces were continuing to expand their offensive and consolidate territorial gains in accordance with their operational plan.

He added that all strikes had targeted verified military objectives and that precautions had been taken to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.

The latest operations follow several days of intensified fighting under Operation Dawn of Yemen.

On Sunday, al-Nuzaily reported that government forces had carried out 1,326 strikes over the preceding 24 hours, “neutralizing” approximately 370 Houthi fighters and destroying or damaging dozens of military vehicles and pieces of equipment.

He also reported advances west of Marib and in Taiz, where government troops backed by local resistance fighters captured positions and recovered heavy weapons.

The offensive comes amid a broader escalation in Yemen, with Saudi-led coalition forces also conducting operations against Houthi military infrastructure following repeated missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia.