The Houthi armed forces in Yemen announced on Thursday that they had executed what they described as a “distinctive and wide-ranging preemptive operation” targeting military sites in the Jizan region of southern Saudi Arabia. According to a statement released by the group’s military wing, the attack utilized dozens of ballistic missiles and drones to strike command centers, control rooms, weapon storage facilities, and missile launch platforms.
The statement specified that the targets included military concentrations in the Al-Tawal area of Jizan, which the Houthis identified as belonging to the “Sixth Emergency Brigade.” The assault also reportedly hit missile launch sites at the Dagharir camp and several other military barracks within the Jizan province. The group asserted that the strikes resulted in “precise and direct” hits, causing damage to infrastructure and igniting fires in ammunition depots.
Regarding casualties, the Houthi forces claimed that their attacks killed and injured “hundreds” of military personnel, explicitly mentioning Yemenis and Sudanese fighters alongside “dozens” of Saudi army officers and soldiers. These claims come amidst a period of intensified military escalation between the Houthi movement and Saudi Arabia. Earlier on Thursday, the Saudi-led coalition announced the interception of six ballistic missiles fired toward the cities of Taif and Yanbu, though no immediate statement was issued by the Houthis regarding those specific projectiles.
The Saudi Ministry of Defense did not immediately comment on the allegations made by the Houthi group. This announcement follows a series of reciprocal accusations and actions. On Wednesday, Yahya Saree, the military spokesperson for the Houthis, stated that Saudi forces had launched 52 air and missile strikes over the preceding 24 hours. He alleged that these attacks originated from Jizan and targeted multiple Yemeni provinces, including Saada.
