Key facts
- Houthi rebels are heavily armed with snipers, artillery, and ballistic missile launchers.
- The Bab al-Mandab strait, crucial for oil exports, is under threat from Houthi control.
- Pro-government forces claim to have regained 85% of the Bab al-Mandab strategic maritime corridor.
- An escalation of violence since early September has displaced approximately 200,000 Yemenis.
- Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia's international airport have increased regional security concerns.
- Hospitals in Aden are treating numerous casualties from the front lines, with doctors treating all wounded regardless of affiliation.
Heavy fighting has erupted in Yemen's southern Lahj governorate as pro-government forces, backed by Saudi Arabia, clash with Houthi rebels who are supported by Iran. Commander Tawfiq Al Haboun of the Southern Forces reported that the Houthis possess snipers, artillery, and ballistic missile launchers, and displayed remnants of a downed Houthi drone carrying C4 explosives. The conflict is unfolding in remote desert areas, with new defenses being established by government troops.
The war in Yemen has significant global implications, particularly concerning the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait, a vital maritime corridor connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. The Houthis seized control of the area after a rapid advance in September, and while pro-government forces claim to have regained about 85% of it, the ongoing conflict continues to put pressure on global oil supplies and prices. The Houthis' actions also serve as leverage for Iran in its regional rivalry with Saudi Arabia.
Since the beginning of the current escalation in early September, approximately 200,000 people have been displaced, according to the International Organization for Migration. Many Yemenis are suffering from hunger and lack basic necessities as they flee the violence. The conflict has also spilled over into Saudi Arabia, with Houthi attacks on Riyadh's international airport marking the deadliest assault on Saudi soil in over a decade, puncturing the kingdom's sense of security.
In hospitals in Aden, the focus is on treating the wounded. One military hospital received 51 casualties in a single day, many with gunshot wounds requiring amputations. Doctors are treating all fighters, regardless of their affiliation, as human beings. Wounded fighters, like Ahmed Ali Mahmoud, express a strong desire to return to combat, viewing it as a religious and national duty. Twelve-year-old Ali, injured by a drone, is undergoing surgery for shrapnel near his spine, with medical staff working to ensure his recovery.
While a 2022 truce brought a period of calm, the Houthis have emerged as a stronger force, controlling most of Yemen's population. Any future mediation efforts may see them drive a hard bargain. Doctors like Bassam Hazar express a deep longing for peace, highlighting the immense human cost of the war, with families losing loved ones.