Saudi-Led Coalition Destroys 136 Houthi Targets, bbc.com Reports
The Saudi-led coalition launched a wide military campaign against the Houthi movement in Yemen, destroying 136 military targets and initiating a counter-offensive to retake lost territory, as reported by bbc.com. The escalation follows a series of ballistic missile and drone attacks by the group on Saudi airports that killed six people during the week.
Coalition Airstrikes and Ground Offensives Across Yemen
The military operation targets Houthi capabilities and elements across areas under the group’s control, according to Coalition Spokesperson Turki al-Maliki on X, who stated that 136 military targets were destroyed. Skynewsarabia.com noted that Saudi air defenses intercepted two ballistic missiles fired toward Riyadh, where diplomats took shelter in the diplomatic quarter and international schools implemented safety precautions.
Contrasting figures emerged from the ground regarding the scope of the offensive. While bbc.com reported that fighting since the counter-offensive began has left more than 400 people dead, janoubia.com cited a statement from Yemeni Armed Forces Spokesperson Colonel Majid al-Nuzaili claiming that operation “Dawn of Yemen” neutralized more than 1,400 Houthi elements and destroyed over 250 military vehicles following more than 2,750 precise targeting operations.
Attacks on Saudi Infrastructure and Houthi Counter-Claims
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya سريع warned employees at all Saudi oil facilities to evacuate, declaring the installations targets for future strikes, while also threatening airlines and passengers. The Houthi military spokesperson warned جميع الموظفين من الخبراء والمهندسين والعمال في جميع المنشآت النفطية السعودية من التواجد في الأماكن التي تمثل أهدافا لقواتنا حتى لا يعرضوا حياتهم للخطر سواء التي تم استهدافُها من قبل أو غيرها
and renewed his warning to air navigation companies, airports, travelers, and workers.
Strategic Objectives and Operation Dawn of Yemen
The intensive strikes form part of the فجر اليمن
operation launched on October 5, 2026, which brought a decisive shift to the military and field trajectory aimed at fully recovering all sovereign areas and institutions and ending Houthi control completely. The military developments accelerate across Yemen as the armed forces and the coalition for supporting legitimacy continue operations initiated on October 5 to defeat the Houthi coup, recover state institutions, and pave the way toward the capital Sanaa. The coalition confirmed in an official statement the continuation of efforts to dismantle and destroy Houthi ballistic missile systems and networks, alongside providing round-the-clock direct air support to the Yemeni armed forces across various combat axes to strike the militia’s overall capabilities and reinforcements.
Whether the ongoing military operations and ground advances by coalition-backed forces will permanently secure the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait against further Houthi naval and missile blockades remains unanswered as clashes continue.
