Yemen’s fighting escalates on multiple fronts as civilian displacement surges

Fighting between Yemen’s internationally recognised government forces and Houthi militants has intensified on several battle lines, including lethal engagements in Lahij, Taiz, al-Jawf and Marib. Government statements said eight soldiers were killed on the al-Maqatirah front and 12 Houthi fighters fell in al-Aqroud, while allied groups used drones and artillery to strike Houthi supply lines and command hubs. The Saudi-led coalition added air raids on Houthi depots, and the Houthis claimed to have downed a Turkish-made reconnaissance drone and a Saudi helicopter.

On the maritime front, an armed skiff attempted to attack an LNG tanker off al-Mukalla but was repelled. Humanitarian agencies report more than 233,000 displaced persons, with 121,000 in Taiz alone, and hospitals in the city face critical shortages of fuel, oxygen and medicines as cholera spreads. The crisis has also spilled into East Africa, where over 4,000 Yemeni refugees have arrived in Djibouti and Somalia, straining local health resources.