Houthis and government trade attacks as Yemen slides back to full-scale war | Houthis News
Escalation of Conflict in Yemen: Government Forces Conduct 81 Attacks, Houthis Target Saudi Arabia
Published: August 20, 2026
Yemen’s government forces have intensified military operations against Houthi positions, conducting 81 attacks within the last 24 hours, a development that raises concerns about a potential return to full-scale war in the region. Majed Abdullah al-Nuzaili, a spokesperson for the government, reported that these operations resulted in the “neutralization” of several Houthi fighters and field commanders.
In a separate development on the same day, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree announced two drone attacks on targets located in Saudi Arabia’s Najran province, situated just across the border from Yemen. He claimed that the assaults successfully hit Najran airport and an Aramco facility.
There has been no immediate confirmation from Saudi Arabian officials regarding the Houthi strikes.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which supports the Houthis, issued a warning stating that Saudi Arabia would struggle to contain the increasing frequency of Houthi attacks. The Houthis have escalated their operations against Saudi infrastructure since imposing a naval blockade on the kingdom in July.
Yemen’s internationally recognized government, based in Aden, has accused the Houthis of attempting to implement a blockade on the country itself and impede oil exports.
In recent weeks, fighting has surged, with government forces reportedly carrying out hundreds of operations against the Houthis, resulting in numerous casualties among Houthi fighters. Exchanges of fire and drone strikes have been observed along nearly the entire front line, although large-scale operations have not yet been reported by either faction.
Both sides have engaged in missile and drone strikes targeting civilian infrastructure deep behind the front lines, including ports and airports.
The conflict in Yemen began in 2014 when the Houthis seized control of significant portions of the country, including the capital, Sanaa. A multi-year struggle ensued between the Houthis and the government, which has received support from a Saudi-led international coalition.
In 2022, a UN-brokered truce largely reduced hostilities in Yemen, but the recent attacks indicate a troubling shift towards renewed large-scale conflict.
The United Nations reports that at least 18 million people in Yemen lack reliable access to sufficient food. On Monday, the UN Human Rights Chief, Volker Turk, urged both parties to “spare the Yemeni people from further misery” and to “halt immediately any actions that risk returning Yemen to full-scale conflict.”
Additionally, reports emerged on Thursday from the United Kingdom’s maritime security monitor indicating that six armed individuals boarded a tanker off the coast of Yemen and redirected it towards Somalia.
