Yemen’s long-running conflict has entered a new phase after the Iran-aligned Houthi movement made significant military gains against forces loyal to the internationally recognised government, strengthening its control over parts of the Red Sea coast.
The latest escalation follows a period of relative calm that began after a United Nations-brokered truce in 2022 between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government.
The conflict dates back to 2014, when the Houthis seized large parts of northwestern Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa. The group later took control of government institutions, forcing then-President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to flee the country.
Saudi Arabia intervened militarily in March 2015 at the head of a coalition supporting the internationally recognised government. Years of fighting resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, mass displacement and a severe humanitarian crisis.
A UN-mediated truce in April 2022 significantly reduced the intensity of the fighting, although no permanent peace agreement was reached.
Houthis expand control
The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, currently control Sanaa and much of northern and northwestern Yemen. The group has also expanded its control along the Red Sea coast and captured the strategic port city of Mocha on September 10.
The expansion has increased concerns over maritime security around the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, one of the world's major shipping routes.
The internationally recognised government, represented by the eight-member Presidential Leadership Council, controls much of southern, central and eastern Yemen.
The Houthis have received backing from Iran but maintain their own political and military interests. The group has also gained international attention through attacks on Israel and commercial shipping in the Red Sea since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023.
Fighting intensifies
Recent clashes have been reported in Marib, Taiz, Lahj, al-Jawf and al-Bayda. The Yemeni army said 13 of its soldiers were killed during two days of fighting with Houthi forces in Taiz and Lahj.
Tensions also escalated after the Houthis launched attacks against Saudi Arabia. The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted a missile targeting Riyadh and accused the Houthis of attempting to strike civilian areas and infrastructure, including facilities around Yanbu.
The Houthis confirmed targeting what they described as sensitive sites in Riyadh and facilities belonging to Saudi oil company Aramco in Yanbu.
Saudi Arabia has also accused the Houthis of attempting to target Mecca, an allegation the Houthi movement has denied.
Regional and humanitarian concerns
The renewed fighting is adding pressure to an already severe humanitarian situation. The International Organization for Migration estimates that about 22 million Yemenis are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, while more than 112,000 people have been displaced by the latest fighting.
Nearly 3,000 people have reportedly fled Yemen to Djibouti.
The conflict has also raised concerns about international shipping and global energy supplies because of the strategic location of Yemen near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea.
The United States has so far avoided directly attacking the Houthis, despite calls from Saudi Arabia for greater military intervention. US officials have reportedly held talks with Houthi representatives in Oman, where the group indicated that vessels not connected to Saudi Arabia would not be targeted.
However, the Houthis have banned Saudi-linked vessels from passing through areas under their control, increasing pressure on Riyadh as it seeks alternative routes for oil exports amid disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz.
The latest developments have renewed fears that Yemen could once again become the centre of a wider regional conflict involving Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United States and other regional actors.
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