Yemeni forces push back Houthi assault in Al‑Jawf province

The Yemeni army announced on 16 July 2026 that it repelled a Houthi attack on military positions along the Qanaw front in Al‑Jawf province, northern Yemen. Government sources said the fighting resulted in Houthi casualties and loss of equipment, forcing the militants to withdraw. No immediate comment was received from the Houthis.

The clash follows a recent escalation in which Yemeni forces struck a runway at Sanaa International Airport after the Houthis blocked flights and allowed an Iranian aircraft to land. The Houthis subsequently accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out the airport attack and launched a missile strike into Saudi territory, ending a four‑year period of relative calm. The Houthis, a Zaydi‑Shiite movement allied with Iran, have previously targeted Red Sea shipping and Saudi infrastructure, heightening regional tensions.

The incident underscores the ongoing volatility of the Yemen conflict and its spill‑over effects on neighboring Saudi Arabia.