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Yemen's Saudi-backed government military says it killed at least 1,150 Houthi fighters in nearly 2,000 strikes in 24 hours under an operation called "Yemen's Dawn," claims Al Jazeera could not verify. The escalation follows an attack on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, Houthi warnings to airlines over Saudi airspace, and expert warnings that the violence will spread and intensify.
Three civilians were killed and 36 wounded in Houthi attacks on Abha airport and King Khalid International Airport, Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority said. The dead include a Moroccan and an Algerian woman at Abha and a Sudanese citizen at King Khalid.
Forces loyal to Yemen's internationally recognized government have launched an operation to retake the mountainous al-Waziiya district in Taiz from the Houthis, part of a wider push to control the Red Sea coast and the Bab al-Mandeb strait. The Houthis deny the government's claim of advances, while Saudi Arabia says it intercepted a Houthi ballistic missile and reported attacks on two southern airports.
Yemen's internationally recognized government says it has taken the initiative against the Houthis with a new campaign, Operation Yemeni Dawn, backed by heavy Saudi-led airstrikes and US intelligence support. The offensive aims to reverse last month's Houthi seizure of the Bab al-Mandeb strait and ultimately retake Sanaa, though gains so far are limited and the Houthis remain a formidable foe.
A Saudi-backed coalition says it has seized strategic positions near the Bab el-Mandeb strait, while the Houthis have widened attacks on Saudi airports and oil infrastructure. The renewed fighting has displaced more than 184,000 people and left at least 959 dead, according to the WHO.
Yemen's internationally recognized government said its forces seized Dhubab district and key positions near the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a day after announcing a major campaign against the Houthis. A military source told Saba that supply lines to Bab al-Mandeb were cut.
Saudi Arabia's role in the Arab and Islamic world gives it significant weight in prospects for normalization with Israel. The kingdom has maintained a consistent stance for more than half a century, viewing recognition of Israel and the establishment of a Palestinian state as parallel components of a single solution. With its economic, religious and political standing, Saudi Arabia is seen as the decisive factor.
Muslims worldwide have begun celebrating Eid al-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice, which coincides with the final day of the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. This year's Hajj has drawn more than 1.7 million pilgrims against a backdrop of the Gaza conflict and heightened US-Iran tensions. The holiday honors the Prophet Ibrahim's act of faith and is marked by prayer, animal sacrifice, and charity.
Saudi Arabia's Finance Ministry reported a budget deficit of 125.7 billion riyals ($33.5 billion) in Q1 2026, more than double the figure from a year earlier. The deficit surged due to a drop in crude oil revenue as the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed, while government spending rose 20%.
