Escalating clashes between government forces and Houthi rebels in Yemen

On September 16, 2026, intense fighting erupted between the Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces and Iranian-aligned Houthi rebels in the Al Jawf province, located near the border with Saudi Arabia. Footage shared by Agence France-Presse (AFP) shows military units utilizing armored vehicles to advance through the desert while engaging enemy positions with heavy weaponry.

According to anonymous military sources, government forces have successfully gained control over sections of the Al Labanat camp, a strategic hill site. However, the advance remains difficult as Houthi forces maintain control over the surrounding high ground. Walid Al Mahajeri, head of operations for the government's 5th Brigade, confirmed that operations are currently ongoing. The latest violence follows a series of recent Houthi strikes against Saudi Arabia, which triggered retaliatory attacks by the Saudi-led coalition against rebel positions in western Yemen.