Saudi Arabia has deployed 100 fighter jets as part of the newly launched Operation Dawn of Yemen, according to a Saudi-backed coalition spokesperson, marking a sharp escalation aimed at securing the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The official stated that coalition aircraft have already destroyed 324 high-value Houthi targets while providing continuous aerial support to Yemeni government forces on the ground around the clock. Footage released by the Saudi Ministry of Defense shows fighter jets taking off, pilots preparing for missions, and scenes of aerial operations underscoring the scale of the air campaign. The support is backing advances by units including the Giants Brigades as they push to reverse recent Houthi gains along the Red Sea coastline. Those earlier Houthi advances and related shipping attacks had raised major concerns over vital global trade routes. The operation’s stated goal includes retaking territory and extending pressure toward Sanaa to restore government control.

This major air commitment comes after months of intensified fighting in which Houthi forces expanded their hold on coastal areas and disrupted maritime traffic. Coalition statements emphasize that the jets are delivering sustained firepower to enable ground forces to reclaim strategic positions. The release of official video highlighting the readiness and launch of the aircraft has been used to project the operation’s strength and coordination. Officials frame the effort as essential for protecting international shipping lanes that pass through the Bab el-Mandeb chokepoint. The claims of hundreds of destroyed targets reflect the intensity of the opening phase of the campaign. As the fighting continues, the scale of the aerial deployment signals a determined attempt to shift the balance in Yemen’s long-running civil war.