Red Sea (South24)

The Iranian-backed Houthi militia announced today the execution of military maneuvers on Yemen’s western coast along the Red Sea, simulating land and sea offensive waves, according to the Houthi-affiliated Saba News Agency.

Saba reported that the maneuvers “simulated confronting large-scale offensive operations launched by hostile forces through four virtual offensive waves on Yemeni territory.”

The exercises included militants recruited under the Houthis “general mobilization” over the past year, which the group claims is in preparation for fighting Israel and the United States and supporting Palestinian factions and Iran’s “Axis of resistance.”

صور | القوات المسلحة اليمنية تجري مناورة "لِيَسُوءُوا وُجُوهَكُمْ" تُحاكي التصدّي لأربع موجات هجومية واسعة بحراً وبراً#مع_غزة_ولبنان #لستم_وحدكم #وكالة_سبأ pic.twitter.com/o1yVmazLtc

— سبأ (@alsyasiah) October 27, 2024

Saba stated that the drill involved preparing for a hypothetical attack by “enemy forces” using an airdrop to seize control of a Yemeni village. Photos showed around 15 Houthi naval boats, alongside explosions targeting both land and sea objects. 

The maneuvers reportedly took place in Hodeidah Governorate in areas under Houthi control.

This announcement comes a day after an Israeli airstrike on Iran early Saturday, October 26. Israel stated that it launched "precise and targeted" strikes on missile production sites and air capabilities in Iran, in response to an October 1 Iranian missile attack.