Yemeni military spokesman says Saudi strikes on Yemen total 988 since escalation

Yemeni Armed Forces spokesman Yahya Saree said Saudi Arabia carried out 52 airstrikes over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of Saudi air and missile strikes since the escalation of hostilities to 988, according to the Yemeni outlet Al-Masirah.

Saree said the strikes were launched by F-15 and Typhoon fighter jets from the Khamis Mushait and Taif airbases, along with missile attacks from Jizan. He said the targets included the provinces of Al-Hudaydah, Taiz, Al-Bayda, Ma'rib, and Sa'dah, and that the attacks resulted in deaths and injuries among Yemeni civilians, including women and children.

According to Saree, the strikes also hit civilian infrastructure, including communication networks, schools, and bridges. He described the attacks as an escalation by what he called the Saudi enemy.

The report by Al-Masirah, cited by Mehr News, did not provide further details on the specific locations or the number of casualties. The claims could not be independently verified.

The conflict in Yemen has been ongoing since 2014, with a Saudi-led coalition intervening in 2015 in support of the internationally recognized government against Houthi forces. The Houthis, who control large parts of northern Yemen, have frequently reported Saudi-led coalition airstrikes on civilian areas. The coalition has previously said its strikes target military objectives and that it takes measures to avoid civilian harm.

According to Mehr News, the Yemeni Armed Forces spokesman provided the figures in a statement carried by Al-Masirah.