Yemen and the Red Sea

Yemen's government air force strikes Houthi positions in al-Jawf, Marib and south of Hodeidah

ATTACK
Location
Al-Jawf, Marib and southern Hodeidah governorates, Yemen — strikes across the country, filed at national scope because no single site carries them
Actors
Yemen (internationally recognized government) · Houthis
Importance
Notable

The Yemeni military said late on Sunday 6 September that its warplanes had raided Houthi positions at al-Barah south of Hodeidah and on the western outskirts of Marib, and hit sites and gatherings at al-Lubnat, al-Alam and the centre of al-Jawf governorate. The claim of heavy losses came without figures, and the Houthis did not respond to it.

In a statement carried by Al Jazeera, the military said: 'The armed forces' warplanes carried out raids targeting Houthi militia positions in al-Barah, south of Hodeidah and in the western outskirts of Marib. They also targeted sites and gatherings of the militia in al-Lubnat, al-Alam and al-Jawf governorate centre, and inflicted heavy loss of life and equipment on the militia.' TRT World reported the same operation against the al-Labanat camp in northern al-Jawf, quoting army spokesman Majid al-Nuzaili, who said the strike used specialised capabilities recently brought into service and destroyed Houthi equipment and neutralised personnel at the base, without disclosing the weapons used or confirmed casualty figures. The government's use of its own air force is new in this campaign: until now the air war over Houthi-held ground was Saudi. No casualty figure was published and the Houthis issued no reply to the strikes.

Why it matters

For the first time in this round the strikes over Houthi-held ground are the Yemeni government's own, not Saudi Arabia's. That changes who owns the escalation on the Red Sea coast, and it is the air cover behind the ground push toward al-Hazm and Hodeidah.

Verification: unverified

Evidence: Yemen gov't forces launch air strikes on Houthi targets, Yemeni army strikes Houthi military camp in northern Al-Jawf

Everything here is the Yemeni military's own statement, carried by Al Jazeera and TRT World. There is no independent confirmation of the targets or of the 'heavy loss of life and equipment', no figures were given, and the Houthis did not respond to the strikes.