Yemen's Government Launches Own Air Strikes on Houthis Amid Renewed Fighting

Yemen's internationally recognized government has launched its own air attacks against Houthi forces, according to a report by Al Jazeera, marking a shift in a conflict that has drawn in outside powers for years.

The report said the strikes follow a major Houthi offensive toward the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a strategically important waterway at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. Al Jazeera described the ensuing clashes as among the worst fighting Yemen has experienced in years.

The government's use of its own air power represents a notable development, as previous air operations against the Houthis in Yemen's prolonged conflict have largely been carried out by other parties, including a Saudi-led coalition that has backed the internationally recognized government.

Al Jazeera's report did not provide further details on the scale of the government's air campaign, the specific targets struck, or casualty figures from the fighting. It was not immediately possible to independently verify the extent of the strikes.

The Houthi movement, which controls large parts of northern Yemen including the capital Sanaa, has been engaged in conflict with the government for years. The group has separately drawn international attention for attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, which it has said are linked to the war in Gaza.

Bab al-Mandeb is a critical chokepoint for global shipping traffic, and instability in the area has broader implications for maritime trade routes connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and beyond.