Fighting in Yemen flares up again
Escalation between the Houthis and government forces leads to fresh displacement and increases pressure on the Red Sea region.
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Fighting in Yemen has intensified again in recent weeks. The Houthi movement and forces supporting the internationally recognised government are battling mainly along the western coast and around Taiz.
According to the United Nations, the Houthis have continued their advance towards the Bab el-Mandeb strait. Government forces are reportedly launching a counter-offensive on several fronts in response. The warring parties offer differing accounts of developments, and independent verification is difficult in many areas.
The new fighting ends the relative calm that had prevailed across large parts of the country since a UN-backed ceasefire in 2022. The war itself began earlier, after the Houthis seized Sanaa and large parts of the north, forcing the government to relocate to Saudi Arabia.
The humanitarian consequences have quickly worsened. The World Health Organization reported on 24 September that 3,672 casualties had been recorded between 6 August and 18 September, including 674 deaths, and that more than 122,000 people had been displaced by the recent escalation.
The western coast is also strategically important because Bab el-Mandeb forms a passage between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. In mid-September, the UN reported that commercial shipping there had not yet clearly come to a standstill, but warned of increasing regional and economic risks.
On Friday, a spokesman for the Yemeni government army said that twenty attacks had been carried out against Houthi targets in Taiz province. A Houthi source denied the claim and accused Saudi Arabia of being unable to substantiate earlier allegations. Neither claim has been independently confirmed.
Diplomatic channels have not been fully closed. The UN envoy for Yemen spoke with Houthi negotiators to prevent further escalation. At the same time, aid organisations continue to warn of shortages, limited access to affected areas and a healthcare system that can barely cope with the additional pressure.
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The article distinguishes confirmed humanitarian and diplomatic information from unconfirmed military claims. Figures are consistently accompanied by the relevant period and source.
- confirmed The fighting has intensified along the western coast and on several fronts. — UN statements describe the intensification and counter-offensives. source
- confirmed Between 6 August and 18 September, 3,672 casualties were reported, including 674 deaths. — WHO report of 24 September. source
- confirmed More than 122,000 people were displaced by the recent escalation. — WHO gives this estimate for the recent escalation. source
- confirmed A government spokesman claimed that twenty air strikes had taken place in Taiz, and a Houthi source denied it. — Reuters reported both opposing claims. source
- confirmed The UN envoy spoke with Houthi negotiators. — Reported by AP. source
Editor's note
The escalation, humanitarian figures and diplomatic efforts have been documented by the UN, WHO and AP. Claims about the twenty air strikes are explicitly attributed to the parties and are not presented as established fact.Sources
- WHO scales up health response as escalating conflict deepens health needs in Yemen — Verenigde Naties in Jemen
- ASG Khiari's remarks to the Security Council on developments in Yemen — United Nations DPPA
- UN envoy meets Houthi negotiators in a bid to halt escalating violence in Yemen — Associated Press
- Yemen carried out 20 strikes on Houthi targets in Taiz province, spokesperson says — Reuters, via Internazionale
More on this in Dutch media
- De Telegraaf — „jemen houthi's”
- AD — „jemen houthi's”
- de Volkskrant — „jemen houthi's”