SANAA/RIYADH: The Saudi-led coalition has launched a major military operation against the Houthi movement in Yemen, with the coalition saying that 100 fighter jets have participated in the operation and 324 high-value targets have been destroyed.

Coalition spokesman Major General Turki Al-Malki said on October 5 that 100 fighter jets had taken part in the “Dawn of Yemen” operation. He said coalition aircraft were providing round-the-clock air support to forces of Yemen’s internationally recognized government and were also providing aerial protection over the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

According to the coalition spokesman, 324 “high-value targets” belonging to the Houthis had been destroyed since the operation began. The claims, however, have not been independently verified in full.

The military operation follows an announcement by Yemen’s internationally recognized government that it had launched a major offensive to retake territory held by the Houthis. Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Rashad Al-Alimi said the objective of the operation was to restore state authority and reclaim territory from the Houthi movement.

Yemeni government forces have also reported significant advances near the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Government sources said their forces had regained control of key positions in the Dhubab district and were seeking to strengthen their position around the strategic waterway. The Houthis have rejected claims of major government advances in the area.

Heavy fighting has also been reported around Taiz and along parts of Yemen’s Red Sea coast. The strategic importance of Bab al-Mandab has raised concerns over the possible impact of the renewed fighting on international shipping and maritime trade through the Red Sea.

The Houthis, meanwhile, have claimed to have carried out missile and drone attacks against Saudi targets. Houthi sources have also claimed that Saudi aircraft conducted 106 strikes during the previous 24 hours. The figure refers to the number of reported strikes, not the number of aircraft, and has not been independently verified.

The Saudi-led coalition’s announcement that 100 fighter jets participated in the operation and that 324 targets had been destroyed comes amid a sharp escalation in fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces.

Analysts say further escalation around Bab al-Mandab and the Red Sea coast could have consequences beyond Yemen, particularly for international maritime trade, energy shipments and regional security.

The military situation remains fluid, with fighting continuing on several fronts and further developments expected as Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces seek to regain territory from the Houthis.