The Yemeni armed forces announced on Sunday that their air defenses shot down a Turkish-made "Bayraktar Akinci" armed reconnaissance drone, which they said belongs to "the Saudi enemy," while it was conducting "hostile operations" in the airspace of Al-Jawf province.

Brigadier General Yahya Saree, the spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF), stated that the drone was downed using appropriate weaponry, affirming that the YAF "will confront any attempt to breach the country's sovereignty."

Saree added that the forces possess "the capabilities and means" enabling them to face any threats, stressing their continued defense of Yemeni airspace and sovereignty.

Days earlier, the YAF declared an end to the 2022 truce, in response to a Saudi airstrike on Sanaa International Airport minutes before the arrival of an Iranian civilian aircraft. According to the Yemeni military, the plane was carrying Yemeni patients, wounded individuals, stranded expatriates, and the Yemeni delegation that had participated in the funeral of the martyred leader, which forced the aircraft to land at Hodeidah airport.

Following that, and after a large popular mandate announced by million-man marches in Sanaa and several provinces a week ago, Sanaa announced a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia as part of a "blockade for blockade" equation. The Yemeni forces said this resulted in the targeting of ships belonging to Saudi companies in the Red Sea.

Yemen Armed Forces strike two Aramco sites with missile 

The Yemeni Armed Forces carried out two "top-tier" operations in response to the "blatant and criminal Saudi aggression," according to a statement on Saturday by Saree.

In the first operation, Saree said, forces targeted sensitive facilities affiliated with Aramco in Jizan using dozens of ballistic missiles and drones. In the second, he reported that forces targeted Aramco-affiliated facilities in Yanbu with ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones.

Saree stated that both operations successfully achieved their objectives, delivering "accurate and direct strikes" on their intended targets.

Yemen vows tit-for-tat response to Saudi aggression

Sana'a will deliver a noteworthy response to the Saudi aggression against the country, the head of the Yemeni News Agency SABA said on Saturday. "The Yemeni response to Saudi escalation will be significant," Nasser al-Amer told Al Mayadeen. He added that "Forcing the Yemeni people to surrender is impossible, and the Saudi side must lift the blockade."

Al-Amer's warning came as the Saudi Civil Defense service issued an early warning air raid notice in Jazan. Overnight on Saturday, Yemen launched retaliatory strikes targeting the Saudi Aramco facility in Jazan's industrial area. Reports also noted explosions being heard near the Khamis Mushait air base.

Ansar Allah's Political Bureau condemned the Saudi attack on civilian facilities in the Hodeidah province and Kamaran Island that occurred around midnight. The bureau warned that Riyadh's direct attacks on Yemen represent a dangerous escalation. It added that Saudi Arabia is attempting to make amends for its military and political failures by targeting the foundations of life for the Yemeni people.

Blockade for blockade, port for port

The bureau noted that the targeting of civilian sites in Yemen is a "blatant violation" that places the international community in the face of a moral and legal responsibility. The latest attacks "will not pass without a response," Ansar Allah's Political Bureau said in a statement. It noted that the deterrence equation established by the Yemeni people, leadership, and armed forces became "clear and firmly established."

The bureau further stated that "blockade for blockade, ports for ports, and escalation for escalation" would remain the response. It warned Riyadh that continued aggression would only bring further losses to those carrying it out. The statement did not specify what form any potential response might take.

Saudi authorities have yet to comment on the reported strikes or the statements issued by Yemeni officials. The reported attacks on the Aramco facility and the air base remain unverified by independent sources.