On Wednesday evening, Yemen's army-affiliated "Shield of the Nation" forces announced the execution of airstrikes targeting Houthi gatherings in Al-Dhale Governorate, southwest Yemen, marking a new development in the ongoing clashes between the two sides.
"Shield of the Nation" stated on its "X" platform account that it conducted "precise airstrikes on Houthi gatherings in Al-Dhale Governorate."
The forces released a video purportedly documenting the targeting of a site housing Houthi individuals in Al-Dhale, without disclosing the strike outcomes or additional details about the targets.
The Houthis have yet to comment on the strikes.
The announcement followed hours after the Yemeni army accused the Houthis of shelling homes and residential areas in the provinces of Taiz and Al-Dhale, resulting in material damage, as reported by the army's website "September Net."
Since early July, several Yemeni fronts have witnessed military escalation, with renewed clashes between government forces and the Houthis in various provinces, including Marib, Al-Jawf, Al-Dhale, and Taiz.
This escalation comes after years of relative calm that began in April 2022, following a conflict that started around 12 years ago between the government forces and the Houthis, who have controlled Sanaa and several Yemeni provinces and cities since September 2014.
The Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen's government, which accuses Iran of backing the Houthis, responded to a purported Houthi-declared "maritime blockade" on the kingdom in July 2026.