Saudi-Backed Mercenaries Retreat As Strikes Injure Civilians across Northern Yemen
- World news
- October, 04, 2026 - 15:41
Yemeni military sources told local media that the vehicles withdrew from al-Turbah toward the Sharjab and Tur al-Baha lines, while other Saudi-backed forces abandoned positions and equipment along routes toward al-Sahi, Hazaz and al-Zariqa.
The withdrawals were described by the sources as a sign of a serious breakdown in the ranks of Saudi-backed forces, following heavy fighting across Yemen’s northern fronts.
The al-Turbah, Hazaz and al-Sahi areas have witnessed repeated clashes in recent months between Yemeni armed forces and Saudi-backed forces, with successive retreats and abandoned military equipment pointing to mounting pressure on the Saudi-backed formations.
The reported battlefield setbacks came as Saudi military continued attacks on civilian areas in northern Yemen, highlighting the human cost accompanying the military escalation.
Al Masirah reported that Saudi warplanes carried out multiple strikes on al-Jawf, while Saudi artillery shelled areas of Razih and Baqim in Saada.
In al-Jawf, a civilian was reportedly wounded when Saudi forces struck the district of al-Hazm.
In Saada, a Saudi missile attack on villages in the Haydan district reportedly wounded a young girl, while Saudi warplanes carried out three rounds of strikes on Kataf and al-Buqaa and two rounds of attacks on Sahar.
The attacks have drawn renewed attention to the civilian toll of the Saudi-led military campaign, which has repeatedly subjected northern Yemen to airstrikes and artillery fire since the coalition intervention began in 2015.
Saada, regarded as a main stronghold of the Ansarullah movement, has been among the most heavily targeted areas of the war, with its border districts repeatedly exposed to bombardment and fighting.