Yemeni government forces say Houthis fired missiles, drones at coast

Yemen’s National Resistance Forces — aligned with the country’s internationally recognized government — on Tuesday reported that Iran-backed Houthi rebels fired 10 missiles and four drones at positions along the country’s western coast since morning, claiming their air defenses intercepted one explosive-laden unmanned aerial vehicle. The group said the attacks failed to achieve their objectives, adding that authorities were assessing the extent of damage without providing specific casualty figures.

Air defense response

In a statement carried by the 2 December news agency, the National Resistance Forces said their air defense systems engaged the incoming threats and successfully shot down one explosive-laden drone. "The Houthi attacks failed to achieve their military objectives," the group said, noting that authorities were evaluating the extent of the damage while withholding further operational details.

Years of conflict

Yemen has experienced a relative lull in fighting since April 2022 following nearly 12 years of war pitting government forces backed by a Saudi-led coalition against the Iran-backed Houthi movement. The Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, and large swathes of the country in 2014, plunging the nation into a protracted conflict that has drawn in regional powers and caused one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

Regional escalation fears

Since late 2023, the Houthis have increasingly entered regional hostilities following the start of Israel’s war on Gaza, launching attacks on Israeli targets and commercial shipping in the Red Sea. The recent surge in violence has raised concerns among diplomats that Yemen could slide back into full-scale war after months of fragile calm.