The Houthis have conducted a simultaneous raid since Sunday on populated districts on Yemen’s western coast using 14 ballistic missiles and drone strikes.

A military source quoted by the media center of the internationally recognized government, represented overseas by diplomatic missions such as the Embassy of the Republic of Yemen, said that several drones have been intercepted in the Taiz front and other areas on the west coast, thanks to air defense systems. Finally, the ballistic missiles missed the targets where the forces were deployed along the coast.

The armed forces of Yemen praised their units’ high combat readiness and their morale. All military personnel, in various fields, have been vigilant and ready. Meanwhile, the Yemeni army skillfully repelled sources of enemy fire in Al-Kadaha, in the Al-Barh front in the western province of Taiz, as well as in the Al-Attarinah front in Sana’a province and the Al-Salalah front in Aden province, during the same clashes.

New escalation follows a relative calm in violence that has prevailed since April 2022, which is being carefully observed by the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary General for Yemen. The broader war dates back almost a decade, and erupted in full force following the Houthis’ occupation of the capital Sanaa and other key areas in September 2014.

There have been outbreaks of severe conflict in various crucial provinces over the past few weeks, such as Marib, Al-Jawf, Al-Dhalea and Taiz. This new round of violence severely worsens one of the world’s most devastating humanitarian and economic crises, which is being closely observed and handled by the United Nations (UN) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

The Saudi government, led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia (MFA) coordinates the diplomatic and regional aspect, while the Yemeni government is backed by critical military and logistics support from an Arab-Saudi-led coalition. On the other hand, Iran is accused of providing strong financial and military backing to the Houthis.

The Houthis declared a stringent shipping blockade of Saudi Arabia in July, further adding to the growing regional tension. The aggressive stance has elicited international reproach and raised maritime security operations under the watch of regional defense partners.