Houthi missiles fired at islands, village in western Yemen, government sources say

SANAA (AA) – Yemen’s Houthi group on Thursday fired ballistic missiles at a village in western Yemen and islands overlooking key maritime trade routes, while the Yemeni navy shot down a Houthi drone over the Red Sea, pro-government sources said.

At least one missile struck a village near Al-Khawkhah city in Yemen’s western Hodeidah province, according to the government-aligned Joint Forces. The group did not provide information on any casualties.

In a separate development, a military source told the official Saba news agency that Houthi forces had targeted several islands overlooking maritime trade routes with ballistic missiles.

The source also said the Yemeni navy had shot down a Houthi drone over the Red Sea.

The reported missile strikes come amid a recent escalation in fighting between the Houthis and Yemeni government-aligned forces in several parts of the country.

In 2014, the Iran-backed Houthis seized large parts of Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa.

The takeover triggered years of war between the Houthis and Yemeni government forces, which were backed by a Saudi-led coalition.

Since the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza conflict in 2023, the Houthis have become increasingly involved in regional hostilities, launching missile attacks on Israel and targeting Israel-linked shipping in the Red Sea.

The latest escalation in Yemen, coupled with the ongoing conflict between Iran and the US, has renewed fears of a return to full-scale war in the impoverished Gulf country.