Yemen Army Claims Hundreds of Strikes on Houthis, Says 700 Killed- Yemen’s internationally recognised government forces say they have carried out hundreds of military operations against Houthi positions, claiming the attacks killed at least 700 fighters as fighting intensifies across several strategic parts of the country.
Colonel Majed Abdullah al-Nazili, a spokesman for Yemen’s government forces, said on Saturday that the military had conducted 257 precision operations targeting Houthi positions, movements and military capabilities.
According to al-Nazili, the operations involved a range of weapons and military assets, including aircraft, drones, artillery, missiles and rocket launchers.
The spokesman said initial assessments indicated that at least 700 Houthi fighters had been killed in the strikes. He also claimed that the operations destroyed 170 combat vehicles and pieces of heavy military equipment, along with other strategically important targets.
The figures were provided by the government forces and could not be independently verified.
Fighting intensifies around Taiz
The latest operations reportedly targeted Houthi-held areas in and around the capital Sanaa, as well as locations including Midi and Baqim. Government forces also carried out attacks along front lines in al-Jawf, Marib, al-Bayda and Lahij.
Al-Nazili said the most intense military activity was concentrated around Taiz, one of Yemen’s most strategically important areas.
The development comes alongside efforts by government forces to tighten control over routes connecting Houthi-held territory with government-controlled areas.
Government forces have also closed a key crossing linking al-Houban, which is under Houthi control, with Taiz city, according to the reported account. The route has long been strategically important because of its location and connection between areas controlled by opposing sides.
The move could further restrict movement through a region that has remained a major flashpoint in Yemen’s prolonged conflict.
Government claims heavy Houthi losses
Al-Nazili said the latest strikes had significantly weakened the Houthis’ ability to conduct military operations.
He claimed the attacks disrupted the group’s military capabilities and reduced its ability to launch attacks against civilians in residential areas and villages.
However, the government spokesman did not provide details about casualties among government forces.
The claims come a day after al-Nazili reported an even larger number of military operations. On Friday, he said government forces had conducted nearly 500 operations within a 24-hour period, claiming that 1,540 Houthi fighters had been killed or wounded.
Those figures, like the latest casualty estimates, have not been independently confirmed.
Yemen’s conflict remains deeply divided
Yemen has been caught in a prolonged conflict between the internationally recognised government and the Houthi movement, which controls large parts of the country’s north and west, including the capital Sanaa.
The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, have remained a major military and political force in Yemen despite years of fighting.
The conflict has also drawn in regional powers and contributed to a wider security crisis in the Middle East. The Houthis have received support from Iran, while the internationally recognised government has been backed by regional partners at different stages of the conflict.
Taiz has remained particularly important because of its geographic position. Control of roads and crossings around the city can affect access between different parts of Yemen and influence the movement of people, supplies and military forces.
Battle for strategic territory
The latest escalation indicates that the struggle for control of key areas remains unresolved.
Government forces say their recent campaign is aimed at weakening Houthi military infrastructure and limiting the group’s ability to conduct attacks. The reported destruction of vehicles and heavy equipment, if confirmed, would represent a significant blow to Houthi battlefield capabilities.
At the same time, the absence of independently verified casualty figures makes it difficult to assess the full impact of the latest operations.
The competing sides have frequently issued conflicting accounts of battlefield developments during Yemen’s conflict, making independent reporting and verification particularly important.
For civilians living near the front lines, renewed fighting could bring further disruption, particularly in areas where access routes and crossings are being restricted.
As government forces increase pressure around Taiz and other strategic locations, the latest operations could mark another significant phase in the continuing struggle over Yemen’s most heavily populated regions.
For now, however, the scale of the reported losses and the longer-term military impact remain dependent on further independent confirmation. 10 Facts About the Countries Dominating Global Debt and Wealth in 2026 | Maya
