Yemen Conflict Escalates as Government and Houthis Exchange Attacks

Yemen is facing renewed fears of a return to full-scale war after government forces and Houthi rebels intensified attacks across the country.

Yemeni government forces said they carried out 81 attacks against Houthi positions within 24 hours, killing or neutralising several fighters and field commanders, according to government spokesperson Majed Abdullah al-Nuzaili.

The Houthis, meanwhile, claimed responsibility for two drone attacks in Saudi Arabia’s Najran province, saying they struck a target at Najran airport and an Aramco facility. Saudi authorities had not immediately confirmed the claims.

The escalation comes after weeks of increased fighting along Yemen’s largely frozen front line. Both sides have also reported missile and drone attacks against infrastructure, including ports and airports.

The conflict began escalating dramatically in 2014 when the Houthis seized large parts of Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa. A UN-brokered truce in 2022 significantly reduced the fighting, but recent attacks have raised fears that the country could again descend into a major war.

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk has urged both sides to stop actions that could return Yemen to full-scale conflict, warning that civilians would bear the greatest burden.

The humanitarian situation remains severe, with the United Nations estimating that at least 18 million Yemenis lack reliable access to sufficient food.

Meanwhile, maritime authorities reported that a tanker was boarded by six armed men off Yemen’s coast and diverted towards Somalia, adding to concerns over growing insecurity in the region.

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