Fresh fighting in Yemen has left dozens of combatants dead, while Saudi Arabia has recorded its first reported fatality since hostilities between the Houthis and government forces intensified again.
The latest clashes came as Yemen’s internationally recognised government forces attempted to regain territory recently captured by the Iran backed Houthi movement.
A Yemeni government military official said at least 23 government soldiers were killed over a 24 hour period in missile and drone attacks across two southwestern provinces. Houthi military sources, meanwhile, claimed that 40 of their fighters were killed in Saudi airstrikes and ground fighting during the same period.
Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence agency also reported a fatal incident linked to the renewed Houthi attacks. It said falling shrapnel from a drone that was brought down in Taif governorate killed one person, injured two others and damaged several buildings and vehicles.
The agency identified the person who died as a Yemeni national. Images released by Saudi state media showed broken windows on vehicles and shop fronts, along with damage to nearby buildings.
The incident occurred a day after Saudi Arabia accused the Houthis of attempting to launch a drone attack towards Mecca. Riyadh described the alleged attack as an attempt that was stopped, while the Houthis denied responsibility for targeting the holy city.
The European Union condemned the recent Houthi attacks and expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia. EU foreign affairs spokesman Anouar El Anouni called on the Houthis to stop military operations, saying attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure were unacceptable.
The Houthis have also accused Saudi backed government forces of carrying out attacks inside Yemen. Houthi media reported that Saudi aircraft targeted three telecommunications towers in Taiz province, while a separate strike in the town of Abs reportedly killed one civilian and injured another.
The Houthi backed outlet later claimed that three children were killed in strikes carried out by forces supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government. Such claims could not be independently verified from the information available.
The renewed violence follows a major Houthi offensive that has allowed the group to seize strategic areas along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, including positions overlooking the Bab al Mandab Strait.
The development has raised wider concerns because of the importance of the waterway to international shipping and energy supplies. The Bab al Mandab connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is a key route for vessels travelling between the Indian Ocean and the Suez Canal.
Saudi Arabia has particular strategic interests in the area because the country has used infrastructure linking its oil fields to the Red Sea as an alternative route for exports when shipping through the Strait of Hormuz faces disruption.
The latest escalation follows the collapse of a fragile truce between the Houthis and Yemen’s government. The ceasefire arrangement had helped reduce fighting, but tensions increased after an Iranian aircraft reportedly landed in Sanaa despite Saudi restrictions over Yemeni airspace.
The Houthis subsequently announced a maritime blockade targeting Saudi Arabia and began carrying out attacks against ships and Saudi territory.
The renewed conflict is adding to the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, which has endured years of war and economic hardship. According to the United Nations, more than 100,000 people have been forced to flee their homes as a result of the latest fighting.
