Yemen’s Houthi movement accused Saudi Arabia of launching 26 airstrikes against areas under its control over a single 24-hour period, according to reporting by Al Jazeera and regional outlets.
Military Escalation and Airstrikes Across Yemen
The reported strikes hit multiple positions across Houthi-held territory, pushing the total number of Saudi-led coalition strikes to approximately 300 over a one-week period, according to Houthi statements. The conflict, which initially began in 2014 when the Houthis captured the capital city of Sanaa, had remained largely frozen since 2022. However, fighting erupted back into active combat phases in July.
Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition backing Yemen’s internationally recognized government since 2015. In response to the latest clashes, the BBC reported that Saudi air defenses intercepted a Houthi drone south of Mecca. Regional allies and the European Union have expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia following the cross-border drone attack, while Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to implementing existing bilateral defense pacts and regional security agreements, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Office statements covered by Dawn.
Red Sea Maritime Blockade and Trade Impact
Earlier this month, Houthi forces launched a rapid offensive to secure Yemen’s entire Red Sea coast, gaining strategic control over the vital Bab al-Mandab strait. Following the offensive, the group declared a maritime blockade targeting Saudi shipping vessels. The Houthis stated that navigation through the strait remains free and open for all international traffic except for vessels linked to Saudi Arabia, which had increasingly relied on the corridor to bypass the Strait of Hormuz amid wider Middle East disruptions.
Data from maritime tracking firm Kpler indicates that Saudi oil exports passing through the Bab al-Mandab strait have declined since July, though five loaded commercial ships successfully navigated the passage within the final week of reporting.
Humanitarian Toll and Displacement Crisis
The resurgence of heavy fighting has severely worsened humanitarian conditions on the ground. According to United Nations figures released on Friday, the renewed hostilities have displaced more than 112,000 people within Yemen. Additionally, nearly 3,000 individuals have fled across the sea by boat to seek refuge in Djibouti.
These movements compound an already catastrophic humanitarian emergency. United Nations assessments note that 17 million people across Yemen struggle to secure adequate daily food, with approximately one million people facing extreme hunger.
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