Fighting continues in Yemen's central Marib Province

Yemeni government forces bombarded Houthi targets in Marib Province in response to an attempted advance by the Iran-backed rebels.

Marib Province is strategically important due to its oil and gas reserves and its location connecting several provinces in central Yemen.

The recent offensive by the Houthis along the western coast has demonstrated the fragility of the alliance of pro-government forces in Yemen.

Yemeni government forces bombarded Houthi targets in contested Marib Province, military sources reported on Wednesday.

The internationally recognized government, which is supported by Saudi Arabia, used drones and artillery, in response to an attempted advance by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, according to the reports.

The Yemeni army released videos showing drone strikes on Houthi positions.

Marib has long been contested in Yemen's civil war and is a strategic target, partly because of its oil and gas reserves. Its location east of the Houthi-occupied capital of Sanaa makes Marib important as a hub connecting several provinces in the central part of the country.

As part of the recent offensive Houthi drive along the western coast, new fighting has also broken out on several fronts in Marib.

A government-allied militia in southern Yemen, known as the Giants Brigades, also reported fighting with the Houthis near the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Two Houthi vehicles were reportedly destroyed and their occupants killed.

The Houthis' rapid advance along the western coast has demonstrated the fragility of the alliance of pro-government forces in Yemen.

The so-called National Resistance Forces said the Houthis had prepared the operation for months and advanced with more than 70,000 fighters. They reportedly attacked with dozens of missiles, drones, and boats packed with explosives.

According to estimates from 2024, the Houthis have around 350,000 fighters.