Houthi: 16 mrtvih u saudijskim zračnim napadima na Jemen

Mutual attacks between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen continued unabated over the weekend, with both sides reporting significant military activity and civilian casualties. The Saudi Civil Defense issued nearly a dozen warnings within a 24-hour period regarding suspected Houthi attacks, affecting Riyadh, Jeddah, and several southern provinces near the Yemeni border. In response, the Saudi-led military coalition stated that it had intercepted more than a dozen rockets, drones, and cruise missiles, primarily in the capital and the southern regions. The Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, claimed that Saudi forces have conducted more than 3,000 rocket and air strikes in Yemen since the current escalation began. He specified that over 100 such attacks occurred in Sanaa and other parts of the country within just 24 hours, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries. Independent verification of these figures was not possible. Both sides denied responsibility for each other's actions, maintaining that their operations were defensive or retaliatory. Casualty reports from the Houthi-controlled television channel Al-Masirah indicated that at least 16 people were killed in recent Saudi airstrikes on targets in Yemen. One attack on a residential area in western Sanaa reportedly killed four people and injured several others. A separate strike targeted a residence building housing workers for a cement factory in the Sanaa province, killing six women and one child while wounding three others. The broadcaster noted that the victims were mostly women and children. Additionally, five people were reported dead following a Saudi attack on the port city of Hodeida in western Yemen. Witnesses described smoke plumes rising from areas west of Sanaa. Al-Masirah also reported approximately 20 airstrikes on the coastal city of Mokha. Journalists were prevented from approaching the bombed sites, hindering independent assessment of the damage. Heavy fighting persisted inside Yemen as well. The Yemeni Interior Ministry announced that Houthi rebels had attacked the southern port city of Aden with rockets. The rebels stated that their targets were two military bases led by Saudi officers, specifically a naval base and an army camp under Saudi control. Eyewitnesses in Aden reported hearing multiple explosions. This conflict has intensified significantly since late February, coinciding with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which reignited tensions between the Houthis and the internationally recognized Yemeni government. On the Saudi side, the military coalition confirmed it destroyed two ballistic missiles launched toward the cities of Taif and Janbu. Earlier in the day, the coalition reported shooting down a ballistic missile heading for Riyadh and a drone in the Eastern Province. Two explosions were heard in Riyadh early Saturday morning, according to local reports. The Saudi Civil Defense activated early warning systems for residents in four western regions, including the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, due to potential threats. Debris from intercepted projectiles fell in the Mecca and Medina regions. The disruption to aviation infrastructure remained severe. Operations resumed at two terminals of the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, though travelers were advised to verify flight status directly with their airlines. Flight tracking service Flightradar24 listed hundreds of flights as canceled as of Sunday midday. Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam appeared at the top of global rankings for airports experiencing the most disruptions. The Houthis warned that the Riyadh airport would remain a "military target." Background data from the World Health Organization indicates that more than 1,500 people have been killed and over 6,900 injured in Yemen since the latest escalation. These figures do not distinguish between combatants and civilians and exclude data from Houthi-controlled territories. The broader regional conflict saw a ceasefire in 2022, but hostilities resumed in July amid the wider Middle East war. Since the beginning of this month, Saudi Arabia has faced near-daily attacks from the Houthi militia, including strikes on oil facilities and airports. Previous Houthi statements indicated attacks on Aramco facilities in Janbu and a refinery in Rabigh, alongside assaults on international airports in Riyadh and Dammam. The Saudi-led coalition has supported the internationally recognized Yemeni government against the Iran-funded Houthis for more than a decade.