Saudi Arabia says four drones destroyed, Yemen forces claim 558 Houthi fighters killed

Saudi Arabia says four drones destroyed, Yemen forces claim 558 Houthi fighters killed

Saudi Arabia’s military coalition has claimed that its forces intercepted and destroyed four drones heading towards the kingdom, as fighting between Yemeni government forces and Houthi fighters continues to intensify.

A spokesperson for the coalition said the military intercepted the four drones in the air before they could reach their intended targets. The drones were destroyed in the areas around Madinah and Saudi Arabia’s eastern regions, according to the spokesperson.

The announcement comes amid growing security concerns in the region, with Saudi Arabia facing renewed threats linked to the ongoing conflict involving Yemen’s Houthi movement.

Separately, Yemeni government forces claimed that they killed 558 Houthi fighters and destroyed 135 military vehicles over a 24-hour period. The forces also said they had halted a Houthi advance in Taiz province, where fighting has continued between the rival sides.

The figures could not be independently verified. The claims highlight the intensity of the latest military operations and the continuing confrontation between Yemen’s government forces and the Iran-aligned Houthi movement.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi movement had not responded to Tehran’s offer to mediate between the two sides.

Speaking in an interview with Iraqi television, Araghchi said Iran had made the mediation proposal earlier this month, when the Houthis increased their attacks on Saudi Arabia.

He said Tehran had yet to receive a response from either side regarding the initiative.

Iran’s proposal comes amid heightened regional tensions, as attacks involving Saudi Arabia and the Houthis raise concerns about further escalation. A mediation effort could provide an opportunity to reduce hostilities, although the lack of responses from both sides leaves the initiative’s prospects uncertain.

The latest developments underscore the overlapping security and diplomatic challenges facing the region, with drone attacks, intensified fighting in Yemen and efforts to pursue mediation unfolding simultaneously.