Key facts
- Yemen's Houthis reported 26 Saudi airstrikes in their controlled areas in the past 24 hours.
- The Houthis claim Saudi Arabia launched 300 strikes over the last week.
- The war, which began in 2014, largely froze in 2022 but resumed in July.
- The Houthis seized control of Yemen's Red Sea coast and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
- Renewed fighting has displaced over 112,000 people, with nearly 3,000 fleeing to Djibouti.
- Saudi Arabia has led a coalition backing the Yemeni government since 2015.
Yemen's Houthi movement stated on Friday that Saudi Arabia had launched 26 airstrikes against areas under their control in the preceding 24 hours, amidst ongoing conflict between the Iran-aligned group and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government. The Houthis also claimed that the number of Saudi strikes on their positions had reached 300 over the last week, targeting various regions across Houthi-held Yemen.
The conflict, which commenced in 2014 with the Houthi takeover of the capital Sanaa, had experienced a period of relative calm since 2022 before reigniting in July. Saudi Arabia has led a coalition supporting the internationally recognized government since 2015, an intervention that has exacerbated the war and contributed to a severe humanitarian crisis.
This month, the Houthis, who already controlled most populated areas of Yemen, initiated a rapid offensive to secure the entire Red Sea coast, thereby gaining control of the crucial Bab al-Mandab strait. The group, originating from the Zaidi Shia Muslim communities in northern Yemen, has declared a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia, which previously utilized the strait to bypass the Strait of Hormuz for its oil exports, especially after the latter was affected by the Middle East war. Data from maritime tracking firm Kpler indicates a decline in Saudi exports via the Bab al-Mandab strait since July, although five loaded ships have passed through in the past week. The Houthis maintain that navigation through the strait remains open and free, with the exception of Saudi vessels.
On Friday, the UN reported that the renewed fighting had resulted in the displacement of over 112,000 individuals, with an additional nearly 3,000 people seeking refuge in Djibouti, further compounding the hardships faced by an already struggling population. The UN had previously warned that in 2025, 17 million people in Yemen would face food insecurity, and a million more would confront extreme hunger.
Separately, Houthi missile attacks in western Yemen resulted in the deaths of eight troops from the Yemeni government forces, according to two military sources. Al-Masirah TV, a Houthi-affiliated channel, reported that two civilians were killed in Saudi strikes that destroyed a bridge in Taiz province, an area experiencing intense clashes recently. US President Donald Trump expressed openness to holding talks with Iran, while Iran's foreign ministry spokesman denied any interference in Yemeni affairs, stating the Houthis are independent actors.