Yemen Govt forces shoot down Houthi drone near Saudi border, destroy bomb-laden boat

SANAA, Aug 22: Yemeni government-aligned forces said Saturday that they had shot down a Houthi drone near the Saudi border and destroyed a bomb-laden boat in the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait, as tensions continue along Yemen's key border and maritime routes.

Air defenses operated by the 3rd Division of Yemen's Emergency Forces intercepted the drone as it approached the Al-Wadiah border area in eastern Hadhramaut province, according to a statement posted on X. Citing an unnamed military source, the forces said the drone was heading toward areas inhabited by residents and displaced people when it was detected and engaged remotely by air-defense units. The drone was brought down before reaching its intended target, with no casualties or material damage reported.

The Emergency Forces said they would continue operations to protect the area and confront threats or hostile attempts targeting the security and stability of Yemen's border regions. Al-Wadiah is home to Yemen's main land crossing with Saudi Arabia and is an important transit point between the two countries.

In a separate incident, the government-aligned National Resistance Forces said their naval units had destroyed a Houthi boat loaded with explosives in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, according to the 2 December news portal. The group's military media did not provide further details about the operation, including the location of the boat or whether there were any casualties.

The developments came as the Yemeni army also announced the death of Yahya al-Warqi, one of its military commanders, in clashes with Houthi fighters. The army did not immediately specify when or where Warqi was killed.

The Houthis did not immediately comment on the reported drone interception, the destruction of the bomb-laden boat or the death of the military commander.

Led by Presidential Leadership Council member Tareq Saleh, the National Resistance Forces are headquartered in the Red Sea port city of Mocha and operate along Yemen's western coastline, including areas of Taiz and Al-Hudaydah provinces.

Yemen has remained mired in conflict since the Houthis seized control of the capital, Sanaa, and large parts of the country in 2014. Saudi Arabia subsequently led a military coalition that intervened in March 2015 in support of Yemen's internationally recognized government, turning the conflict into a wider regional confrontation