YAF declares Saudi airspace an operations zone after barrage of retaliatory strikes; downs CH-4 drone and repels border advance
The Yemeni Armed Forces carried out a series of operations targeting Saudi military and strategic sites early Wednesday, spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree announced.
Saree said the YAF targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh with several drones. In two separate operations, Yemeni forces also struck Abha International Airport and Khamis Mushait Air Base using ballistic missiles and drones.
In another operation, Yemeni forces targeted Saudi troop concentrations at the Daghareer and al-Mawsim camps in Jizan, as well as the Aqifa camp in Asir.
According to Saree, the strikes killed and wounded dozens of Saudi soldiers and officers and set fire to weapons depots at the targeted sites.
Saudi Reconnaissance Drone Downed Over al-Jawf
The YAF spokesman also announced that Yemeni forces shot down a Saudi CH-4 armed reconnaissance drone over al-Jawf province.
The Saudi-led coalition, meanwhile, claimed it had intercepted ballistic missiles and destroyed launch platforms and weapons facilities.
Operations Follow Monday’s Strikes
The latest operations followed a series of Yemeni strikes on Monday that targeted King Khalid International Airport, an Aramco refinery in Rabigh, and sites in Asir, Najran, and Jizan.
Saree said Monday’s operations came in response to 60 Saudi strikes carried out within 24 hours.
He has also declared Saudi airspace an operations zone and warned international airlines against flying through it, while excluding the airspace over Mecca and Medina.
YAF Thwart Saudi Advance Attempts
Earlier on Tuesday, Saree announced that the YAF repelled Saudi forces attempting to advance toward their positions southwest of al-Waziya, preventing them from making any progress.
In a statement, Saree said Yemeni forces confronted and drove back the Saudi forces as they attempted to advance toward YAF-held positions in the area.
He said several Saudi military and armored vehicles were destroyed during the clashes, while dozens on the opposite side were killed or wounded.
Saree said the YAF subsequently targeted gatherings of Saudi forces that attempted to reinforce the units involved in the advance and rescue the remaining Saudi forces.
The concentrations were targeted with a number of ballistic missiles, he said, adding that the strikes were direct and precise.
Source: Al-Manar English Wbsite