Saudi Unleashes '900+' Airstrikes, '800 Houthi Bodies' Scattered Across Mountains | Firstpost Live

Battlefield Developments in Taiz (Yemen)

Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces claim new victories in Taiz, saying Houthi positions are being heavily bombarded from multiple fronts. The report adds that Houthis are facing mounting casualties, while intense clashes continue south of Taiz.

Scale of Saudi Air/Missile Campaign

Saudi warplanes are reported to have carried out 52 airstrikes/missile attacks (using F-15s and Typhoons) from Khamis Mushait and Taif. Missile attacks are described as being launched from Jizan.

Reported targets include Hodeidah, Taiz, Al-Bayda, Marib, and Saada, with claims of:

• Civilian deaths and injuries
• Destruction of civilian infrastructure (including communications networks, schools, bridges, and roads)

Houthi Claims of Continued Pressure

Houthis counter that Saudi Arabia has launched nearly a thousand missile/airstrikes since the escalation began earlier in the month.

Bodies Found in Newly “Liberated” Areas

As government forces advance, reports say they discovered over 800 Houthi fighters’ bodies in Taiz across mountains and valleys. The killings are alleged to have resulted from Saudi-backed shelling or airstrikes.

The Yemeni forces reportedly handed over Houthi bodies to the ICRC.

Houthi Position: “Offensive Losing Momentum” vs. Ongoing Threats

Despite claimed losses, a Houthi adviser says the group would attack US interests in West Asia if the US intervenes in any form—especially efforts to influence control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, described as strategically vital for global oil trade.

Maritime “Red Line” Claims

Houthi officials warn that while they claim shipping won’t be broadly halted, a naval blockade would apply to any country that joins Saudi Arabia. They frame the Bab el-Mandeb dispute as:

• Analogous to Hormuz, but
• Distinct in its specifics

They also vow retaliation if the US or Israel enters the conflict.

Retaliation Against Saudi Economic Targets

Houthis say they will respond by striking Saudi economic assets, explicitly mentioning Aramco, Saudi oil, and vital infrastructure such as power plants—“in kind” with Saudi actions.

Humanitarian Impact and Displacement Surge

A Yemeni state body reports internally displaced people increased from 131,000 to 169,000 in five days. The UNHCR warns the figure could reach 230,000 if fighting continues.

Additional details include:

• Taiz accounts for over 60% of displacement figures
• Further displacement reported in Al-Jawf, Marib, and Hodeidah
• First-person accounts describing civilian danger during air raids and difficulty giving birth amid bombardment
• Refugees reportedly fleeing to Djibouti, described as facing dire conditions

Broader Context and Global Attention

The commentary suggests the escalation marks the war entering a new dangerous phase with no clear end, while global focus shifts to Washington as Trump and Xi prepare for a high-level meeting on trade, Taiwan, AI, and world order.

Presenters / Contributors

• Hina Kausar Khan