Yemeni Government and Saudi Arabia Launch Airstrikes Against Houthis

The Yemeni Armed Forces and the Military of Saudi Arabia launched a series of coordinated airstrikes against Houthi positions on September 26, 2026. Government forces targeted Houthi supply convoys, reinforcements, and weapons depots across Taiz province, resulting in dozens of casualties including field commanders. Simultaneously, Saudi Arabian F-15 and Typhoon jets launched 27 strikes across six provinces, including Marib, Saada, and Hajjah, targeting infrastructure such as roads and bridges. These operations follow the Houthi seizure of Mocha and Mayyun Island earlier in the month.

In response to the escalation, the Houthi militia has begun utilizing Iranian air defense weapons modified into loitering missiles to target international air routes over the southern Red Sea. Yemeni military officials report that experts from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are converting these weapons within the Hodeidah Governorate. These missiles use thermal tracking and can cruise for 25 minutes, posing a direct threat to both military and civilian aviation, including humanitarian flights.

The conflict has intensified since the Government of Sana’a declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia on July 20. This blockade was issued in response to a long-term siege of Yemen, leading to Houthi operations against Saudi-linked ships in the Red Sea. Iranian officials Mohammad Mokhber and Mohsen Rezaei have further compounded the tension by threatening to disrupt regional aviation services following sanctions imposed on Iranian airlines.