Yemen’s army has confirmed that a Houthi missile and drone attack has killed 18 members of its security forces, including one officer, while injuring several others.

The assault involved ballistic missiles and drones and struck government positions, leaving 17 soldiers and one officer dead. Several other personnel sustained injuries in the attack, which underscores the growing intensity of the conflict.

The incident comes amid escalating hostilities in Yemen, where the Iran-aligned Houthi group has stepped up military operations against government forces while simultaneously targeting maritime assets linked to Saudi Arabia.

The dual strategy of land-based assaults and maritime disruption highlights the group’s determination to expand pressure on both domestic and regional fronts.

Only a day earlier, the Houthis claimed responsibility for a ballistic missile strike on the Saudi oil tanker Daisy in the Gulf of Aden. The group announced on Telegram that the vessel had been hit and forced to change course.

They described the operation as part of a broader maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia, particularly through the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The Houthis framed the strike as “blockade for blockade,” vowing to continue targeting Saudi oil vessels until their demands were met.

The claim followed another announcement of a strike on the Saudi oil tanker Wafaa off Yanbu in the northern Red Sea. Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree declared that the strike was accurate and added that eight Saudi oil tankers had been targeted since the group launched its maritime campaign on 22 July.

He further claimed that 29 Saudi oil vessels had been prevented from continuing their routes or forced to turn back in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea.

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported two separate maritime security incidents on 5 August. In one case, a tanker master reported hearing a loud explosion 95 nautical miles southeast of Aden, Yemen.

The crew was safe, and no environmental damage was recorded. In another delayed report, a tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz near Kumzar, Oman, reported hearing two explosions. Again, the vessel and crew were unharmed, and no environmental damage was reported. Investigations into both incidents remain underway.

The latest attack on Yemeni government forces demonstrates the Houthis’ capacity to conduct simultaneous operations on land and sea. Analysts note that the group’s use of ballistic missiles and drones reflects a growing sophistication in its arsenal, raising concerns about the potential for further destabilisation in Yemen and the wider region.

The Gulf of Aden, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and Red Sea remain critical maritime corridors for global energy supplies, and continued disruption threatens international shipping and oil markets.

ANI