Yemen front and the region
Washington limits staff departure to Saudi Arabia as Yemen's government warns Houthi gatherings
The US State Department denied a wider Gulf evacuation, while Reuters cited officials saying one is being prepared. Yemen's defence ministry warned that Houthi gatherings are military targets. Fighting continued in Taiz and Lahj, and attacks on Al-Rayan airport went on.
Summary
- DisputedState Department: the departure order covers Saudi Arabia only; Reuters cites officials preparing departures from Gulf embassies.
- ConfirmedYemen's defence ministry calls Houthi tribal and mass gatherings legitimate military targets.
- ConfirmedGrundberg wraps up London and Berlin visits; UN says about 260,000 people displaced since August.
- AttributedArmy: the Houthis targeted Al-Rayan airport in Mukalla for the fourth time within hours.
- AttributedTwo air strikes hit Houthi positions in Taiz, and heavy fighting is reported on the Naqeela front in Lahj.
people displaced since August according to the UN, about half to Taiz
02:33Zdisplaced people reached by humanitarian aid since August
02:33Zattacks on Al-Rayan airport within hours, according to Yemen's army
02:49ZDevelopments in this window
- AttributedDiplomacy
Araghchi warns Egypt against intervening in Yemen war
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Al-Iraqiya TV that any foreign intervention would make resolving the Yemen crisis harder, adding that Egypt has the experience to avoid getting entangled. He noted that Cairo has said it will not attack Yemen.
Source: almashhad.news - AttributedLahj
Heavy fighting on the Naqeela front in Lahj
Field sources said Giants Brigades and Nation Shield forces, backed by Subaiha tribes, have been fighting the Houthis on the Naqeela, Al-Madharba and Ras al-Ara fronts since Wednesday noon. The sources say the forces repelled several Houthi assaults, without confirmed casualty figures.
Source: almashhad-alyemeni.com - AttributedTaiz
Distress calls from Taiz villages under Houthi shelling
Local sources said the villages of Kahlan, Al-Najada and Al-Shaqab have been under continuous Houthi artillery fire for more than 15 hours. Residents appealed for help to rescue civilians. The account comes from local sources and could not be independently verified.
Source: almashhad-alyemeni.com - AttributedTaiz
Taiz military axis: two air strikes on Houthi positions west and east of the city
The Taiz military axis media centre said one strike destroyed a Houthi tank in the Madarat area west of the city and a second hit positions near the airport area to the east. It gave no results for the second strike, and the Houthis did not comment.
Source: almashhad.news - AttributedHadramout
Army: fourth Houthi strike on Al-Rayan airport in Mukalla
Yemeni army spokesperson Col. Majed al-Nuzaili said the Houthis targeted Al-Rayan airport for the fourth time within hours. Xinhua quoted a security official as saying Houthi drones targeted the vicinity of the Al-Dhabba oil terminal near Al-Shihr. No casualties were reported from the latest strikes.
Source: jordanzad.com China Daily Asia - DisputedSaudi Arabia and the Gulf
Conflicting accounts on scope of US diplomatic departure
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the departure order applies only to non-emergency staff and families in Saudi Arabia, calling reports of a wider evacuation inaccurate. Reuters, however, cited 3 US officials as saying the department is preparing a departure order for staff at Gulf embassies because of the Houthi threat.
- ConfirmedHouthi-held areas
Defence ministry: Houthi gatherings are legitimate military targets
Yemen's defence ministry warned residents of Houthi-held areas against joining tribal mobilisation events, mass rallies and cultural courses. It said the group uses them to recruit children and young people, and that such gatherings will be treated as legitimate military targets.
Source: belqees.net Roya News - ConfirmedDiplomacy
Grundberg concludes London and Berlin visits
The office of UN envoy Hans Grundberg said he discussed advancing the political process with British and German officials and stressed coordinated regional and international support for a negotiated settlement. The UN said about 260,000 people have been displaced since August, nearly half of them to Taiz.
Source: almashhad-alyemeni.com belqees.net