Fighting has resumed in Yemen following a breakdown of a UN-brokered truce that had largely held since 2022. The renewed violence involves the Houthi movement, which controls the western portion of the country including the capital Sana’a, against the internationally-recognized Yemeni government forces backed by Saudi Arabia and an Arab coalition. The escalation has resulted in approximately 1,000 casualties and the displacement of tens of thousands of civilians.
The civil conflict in Yemen dates to 2014, when clashes between Houthis and government forces escalated following fuel subsidy protests. A Saudi-led coalition subsequently intervened militarily, primarily through airstrikes, to support the government. The conflict has fragmented further, with multiple armed groups competing for territory and influence. A UN-mediated ceasefire took effect in 2022 and was extended twice, creating a period of relative calm.
The truce began deteriorating after fighting commenced in Gaza on 7 October 2023. The Houthi movement, aligned with Iran, initiated a campaign targeting ships in the Red Sea in stated solidarity with Palestinians. This prompted US military intervention and strained the Yemen ceasefire. The situation intensified when an Iranian aircraft landed at Sana’a airport in July, prompting Saudi airstrikes on the facility. The Houthis subsequently declared a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea.
Last week, the Houthis launched a major offensive to capture strategic positions along Yemen’s western coast overlooking the Bab al-Mandab strait, a critical global shipping route. Government forces responded across multiple fronts, and the Yemeni government announced a campaign to retake Sana’a. The Houthis conducted missile strikes on Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, injuring 73 people and causing fires at oil installations. Saudi Arabia responded with more than 50 airstrikes within a 12-hour period.
The humanitarian toll of Yemen’s conflict remains severe. Since 2014, at least 150,000 people have died from fighting, with hundreds of thousands more perishing from hunger and disease. Approximately 4.5 million people have been displaced, and more than 18.2 million require humanitarian assistance according to UN assessments.
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