Video: Houthis release drone footage claiming missile strike on Pro-Saudi forces in Yemen’s Ras al-Arah
Abdullateef Fowewe
Yemen’s Houthi movement (Ansar Allah) has released drone footage showing what it describes as ballistic missile strikes on concentrations of Saudi-backed forces and vehicles in the coastal area of Ras al-Arah (Ra’s al-‘Arah), in Lahj Governorate in southwestern Yemen.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DeHntJcKXee/?stkn=emgyd3pqNnkyYjEz
The video, shared by the group’s military media, depicts multiple vehicles on fire amid thick black smoke, explosions, and what appear to be troops fleeing the scene in desert terrain.
Targeting overlays highlight impacts in the footage.
Houthi-aligned sources described the operation as targeting mobilisations of forces loyal to the Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council using locally produced ballistic missiles.
Ras al-Arah is a strategically located coastal zone near the Red Sea and the approaches to Aden and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
It has featured in recent fighting as Houthi forces advanced along Yemen’s western and southwestern coast earlier in the escalation.
A multi-year truce in Yemen largely held until mid-2026, when hostilities reignited amid broader regional tensions linked to the conflict involving Iran.
Houthis seized key positions along the Red Sea coast, including strategic islands, and launched repeated ballistic missile and drone attacks toward targets inside Saudi Arabia, including claims involving Riyadh, energy facilities in Yanbu, and southern border areas.
Saudi-led coalition forces and the internationally recognised Yemeni government have responded with airstrikes and ground operations.
Fighting has intensified in multiple governorates, with both sides reporting significant strikes and casualties.
On the ground, Houthi advances have pressured Saudi-backed positions in areas such as Lahj, while Saudi and allied forces have conducted air campaigns targeting Houthi infrastructure and reinforcements.
The release of the Ras al-Arah footage comes as the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council announced major offensive operations aimed at reclaiming territory held by Ansar Allah.
