Aden (South24)  

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Combat fronts in Dhalea and Shabwa, South Yemen, witnessed military escalation and confrontations over the past two days between the Southern Forces and the Iran-backed Houthi group, resulting in the death of five soldiers and injury to two others from the Southern Forces. 

On Wednesday (September 3), a soldier from the Southern Giants Brigades was killed following the detonation of an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by the Houthi militia in the Upper Markha front in Shabwa Governorate, southern Yemen. 

Later that same night, two Southern soldiers were wounded by Houthi sniper fire in the Al-Hadd front in Yafa, Lahj Governorate. 

Meanwhile, a ‘South24’ correspondent reported that “two Houthi militants were killed during a failed infiltration attempt in the Batar front, northwest of Dhalea Governorate”. 

On Tuesday (September 2), a military source told ‘South24’ that four Southern soldiers were killed in clashes in the Al-Fakher front, north of Dhalea Governorate. 

Continued Escalation Against Israel 

Concurrently, the Houthi group continued its external escalation by launching ballistic missiles and drones toward Israel. On Wednesday evening (September 3), the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced the interception of a missile launched from Yemen, triggering air raid sirens in several areas. Meanwhile, Israeli media outlets confirmed that another missile fell before reaching its target. 

According to Israel Hayom, Israeli air defenses successfully intercepted a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis, while Israeli Channel 12 reported that another missile landed in an open area. On Thursday (September 4), the Israeli military announced that one of these missiles fell outside Israeli territory without causing any damage. 

Arrest Campaign 

In a separate statement, the Houthi-run Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed that its recent security measures against UN personnel in Sanaa “comply with national and international laws”, accusing the international organization of “turning a blind eye to the targeting of ministers in their government”. 

The Houthi-run ministry also alleged that diplomatic immunities “do not protect those engaged in espionage activities”, referring to the detained UN staff members. 

On August 31, the Houthis detained 19 UN staff members in Sana'a and Hodeidah, alongside raiding World Food Programme facilities and confiscating UN property. 

Yemeni media sources reported that the Israeli airstrikes on Sanaa on August 28 also targeted a Houthi security meeting, resulting in the death and injury of around 45 people.

Sources in Sanaa told South24 that last Thursday’s strikes hit a third Houthi facility in the Hadda district of the capital. However, there has so far been Houthi secrecy regarding the nature of the targets or the individuals present at the site.

The sources added that the Houthis have imposed a tight security cordon around the area.

On Thursday (September 4), the Houthis claimed responsibility for new attacks targeting “sites in Jerusalem and Haifa” using a ballistic missile and a drone, while their military spokesperson later announced the targeting of Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv with a ballistic missile. 

Israeli Defense Minister responded with “The Houthis are firing missiles at Israel again. 

“A plague of darkness, a plague of the firstborn - we will complete all ten plagues,” he posted on his X handle. 

On Tuesday (Sep 2), he alleged that the Houthi leadership is fleeing Sanaa. 

These developments come amid growing international pressure on the Iran-backed group, coinciding with the expansion of battlefield confrontations.