48 Killed in Clashes Between Government Forces and Houthi Rebels in Southern Yemen (Military Sources)

At least 48 people have been killed in clashes between Saudi-backed government forces and Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in southern Yemen over the past 24 hours, military sources from both sides told AFP on Saturday.

Government military sources reported 17 of their fighters killed in the last 24 hours, while Houthi sources claimed 31. The clashes occurred between the Lahj and Taiz provinces in the south of the country.

Government sources said Yemeni forces "managed to retake half of the positions seized by the Houthis on the border between Lahj and Taiz provinces yesterday," adding that fighting intensified in the Kahbub Mountains region, which the Houthis are trying to bring under full control.

Houthi sources reported that their fighters "made progress in the field along the border between Taiz and Lahj and were subjected to Saudi airstrikes in the al-Waziya region today."

These areas are located near Yemen's western coast, overlooking the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which the Houthis seized last week. The strait connects the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea and, via the Suez Canal, Asia to Europe.

The Houthis imposed a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in July and have been carrying out attacks on the kingdom, particularly targeting oil and military facilities. They claim Riyadh has been conducting airstrikes on areas under their control.

Early Saturday morning, Saudi civil defense issued its first warning of an "enemy airstrike" targeting Riyadh since the start of the current escalation.

According to AFP reporters, explosions were heard in the Saudi capital on Saturday, and smoke was seen rising from an Aramco fuel depot near King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The source of the attack is unknown.

On Friday, the Houthis said Saudi warplanes had carried out 26 airstrikes targeting Taiz province in the past 24 hours, as fighting in the country intensified.

Army spokesman Yahya Saree stated that the total number of Saudi airstrikes in Yemen this week had reached 300, and that these attacks, carried out by F-15 and Typhoon aircraft taking off from Khamis Mushait and Taif bases, targeted the provinces of Taiz, Hajjah, Marib, Al Jawf, Al Bayda, Amran, Lahj, Hodeidah, and Saada.