Saudi Arabia carried out an overnight airstrike in Jabah District, Maarib. Officials reported the attack was on Houthis under a tree, and 18 were killed.
The Houthis reported 9 missiles were fired in the attack. This is a comparatively low toll for a major strike, possibly reflecting Houthis controlling more territory and not being so exposed in the area.
The Houthis have been contesting Maarib since February. Thousands have been killed in the fighting, and they still don’t have Maarib City, but the Houthis have taken most of the province, and virtually surround the city.
After all this fighting a victory would be a major symbolic win, but the value of the city itself is overstated, as even “oil-rich” by Yemen’s standards means little revenue, and months of fighting has refugees stranded around the area, all those refugees are going to be the responsibility of whoever controls the area.