Death toll of YAF strikes on Saudi-backed forces rises to 58
The death toll from Yemeni Armed Forces attacks on Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces has risen to 58, amid renewed escalation between Sanaa and Riyadh.
-
Smoke rises from a site linked to Saudi-backed forces in Yemen, following strikes by the Yemeni Armed Forces, on August 6, 2026. (Social media)
The death toll from attacks carried out by the Yemeni Armed Forces against Saudi-backed forces has risen to 58, according to AFP.
The escalation comes after Saudi-backed forces announced Thursday that several military camps and units had come under attack, resulting in casualties and material damage.
The media center of the First Brigade of the so-called Emergency Forces said in a statement that the Yemeni Ansar Allah movemnet had targeted several military positions, including camps belonging to the Saudi-backed formations.
YAF announces large-scale operation
Meanwhile, the YAF announced that its forces had carried out a "large-scale and qualitative military operation" targeting Saudi-backed military gatherings in the areas of Al-Ruwaik, Al-Abr, and Al-Thaniyah, as well as camps belonging to the First and Third Emergency Brigades.
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree said the operation involved a large number of ballistic missiles and drones.
Saree said the strikes were launched after Sanaa forces monitored major Saudi military deployments that were in their final stages, aiming for an offesnive on areas under Sanaa's control.
He added that the operation was conducted in response to preparations to intensify military pressure and attempts to force Sanaa to abandon its position regarding the lifting of the Saudi-led blockade.
Ansar Allah says strikes were preemptive response
Ansar Allah political bureau member Mohammed Shawka said the operation was carried out ahead of a planned attack by Saudi Arabia and its allies against Sanaa. Shawka said the YAF had monitored Saudi-backed military concentrations through surveillance operations before targeting the gatherings to prevent preparations for an offensive against the capital.
The attack marks one of the most significant military confrontations between Ansar Allah and Saudi-backed forces since the UN-brokered truce of 2022 significantly reduced cross-border fighting.
Saudi-led coalition reports casualties in Najran
The latest developments follow a statement from the Saudi-led coalition, cited by Reuters, claiming that 11 civilians were injured in attackstargeting the Saudi border region of Najran.
According to the coalition, those injured included seven Saudis, one Yemeni national, two Egyptians, and one Pakistani citizen.
Saree said earlier that a drone operation targeted a sensitive Saudi military site at Najran airport, describing the strike as accurate.
Saree said the operation was conducted in response to violations of Yemeni airspace by Saudi drones over the provinces of Saada and Hajjah.
Read more: Saudi escalation against Yemen a miscalculation: Foreign Policy