Saudi Arabia intensifies airstrikes as Sanaa air defenses break equation over Yemen

SANAA, Sept. 20 (YPA) – The battlefield has witnessed a rapid military escalation following intensified Saudi airstrikes on civilian sites across several Yemeni provinces, in a new wave of attacks that has pushed the total number of airstrikes to record levels.

The escalation was met by Yemeni air-defense operations that resulted in the downing of a fighter jet and repeated interceptions by Sanaa’s air defenses of Saudi aerial formations.

According to military statements and updates issued by spokesman for the Sanaa forces Brig. Gen. Yahya Sarie, Saudi warplanes intensified their strikes using F-15 and Typhoon fighter jets.

The statements said the aircraft were launched mainly from King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait and King Fahd Air Base in Taif.

The airstrikes, which have exceeded 760 since the start of the latest escalation, targeted a wide range of Yemeni provinces, including Taiz, Marib, Jawf, Hodeida, Bayda, Saada, Amran, Hajjah and Lahj.

Military reports said the bombardment targeted civilian sites, including roads, bridges and schools, as well as the Central Prison in Al-Hazm City, Al-Jawf Province.

The confrontation also saw a notable development in Sanaa’s air-defense capabilities. On September 16, Sanaa forces announced that they had shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet with a locally manufactured surface-to-air missile over Marib Province while it was carrying out an aerial mission.

Military reports also documented several air-defense operations against Saudi fighter formations, including forcing two formations of F-15 and Typhoon aircraft to retreat over Marib while searching for the wreckage of the downed aircraft. They also reported intercepting Saudi warplanes over the Mocha area of Taiz Province and forcing them to withdraw before carrying out their attacks.