Yemen Conflict: Army claims 300 fighters killed as missiles reach Mecca

Yemen’s internationally recognized government says it neutralized 300 Houthi fighters in the past day, a claim made as missile debris fell near the Saudi holy cities of Mecca and Medina. The conflicting accounts highlight the intensifying pressure on both sides of the border as the war enters a new phase of long-range strikes.

Colonel Majed Abdullah al-Nazili, a Yemeni army spokesman, stated on Saturday that government forces conducted more than 700 targeting operations over the previous 24 hours. He said these actions focused on field command centers, weapons depots, and supply lines in Taiz. The military asserted that the operations disabled various military vehicles, though Al Jazeera noted it could not independently verify the specific casualty counts.

In Saudi Arabia, the civil defence agency confirmed on Saturday that two ballistic missiles were launched toward Mecca and Medina. The agency warned of falling shrapnel after intercepting the projectiles. Images released by the Saudi Press Agency showed a large, blackened object landing within the kingdom's territory.

The Yemeni Transport Ministry condemned the targeting of Aden International Airport on Saturday, marking the fourth such incident this month. The ministry reported that two ballistic missiles hit the facility, threatening civil aviation and the economic stability of citizens. Authorities also confirmed that the coastguard headquarters and another building in Aden were struck during the assault.

The Houthi group disputed the narrative that they targeted the holy cities. In a response, they called that claim a huge lie, stating instead that their intended targets were three Saudi airports, oil infrastructure, and an airbase. Meanwhile, Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported that Saudi airstrikes killed several civilians in Sanaa and Hodeidah, a claim Riyadh has not yet formally addressed.

The violence continues following the collapse of a fragile ceasefire agreed upon in 2022. Since July, Houthi forces have persistently targeted Saudi energy infrastructure and airports. The conflict has also seen internal friction, with the Yemeni army reporting that a malfunctioning Houthi missile crashed into a family home in Sanaa on Friday, killing three people.

Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, described the Houthi attacks as heinous. He stated in a Saturday statement that the strikes showed a blatant disregard for the lives and security of civilians in the region.