Yemen’s National Resistance Reports Over 2,000 Killed or Wounded, Accuses IRGC of Directing Bab al-Mandab Offensive

Yemen’s National Resistance forces suffered more than 2,000 personnel killed or wounded in fighting on the western coast, spokesperson Sadiq Doweid said, accusing Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of planning and directing an offensive aimed at seizing Bab al-Mandab.

Doweid said casualty counting was continuing. He alleged that Iranian and Lebanese experts directly participated in managing the offensive, which had been prepared over several months and involved a major mobilisation of fighters and weapons.

National Resistance forces defended a 170-kilometre front while also protecting coastal areas and islands, he said.

According to figures provided by Doweid, the Houthis launched 130 ballistic missiles, 145 one-way attack drones and 15 explosive-laden boats between August 9 and September 9. Of those, he said, 23 missiles and 18 drones targeted Lieutenant General Tareq Saleh at his command headquarters and residence. Other facilities were also struck because the Houthis believed he might be present.

Doweid said ballistic missiles were used against frontline positions and fortifications. One defensive position, he added, was hit by 85 mortar rounds before being stormed.

He said the forces’ electronic warfare unit detected 5,346 radio devices near the front lines, including 3,181 on the Al-Barh front and 2,165 on the Hodeidah front. He estimated the Houthi mobilisation at more than 76,000 fighters, linking that assessment to radio use by squad and platoon commanders, but provided insufficient detail to verify the estimate.

National Resistance troops also came under attack from dozens of missiles and one-way attack drones during their withdrawal, Doweid said. He added that the strikes were continuing at the time of his statement, describing them as an attempt to prevent his forces from regrouping and reorganising.

He also claimed heavy Houthi losses but gave no casualty figures.

The statement carried implicit criticism of the level of support from other fronts. Doweid said his forces had needed a stronger, coordinated push elsewhere to counter the Houthis, and called for unity and measures to address earlier shortcomings.

Acknowledging the military setback, he pledged to continue fighting.

“We lost a round, but our resolve will not be broken,” he said.

The casualty figures, force estimates and weapons totals cited in the statement could not be independently verified, nor could the allegations of direct Iranian and Lebanese involvement in directing the operations.