Yemen fighting escalates to worst level since 2022

Yemen is experiencing its most serious escalation of fighting since a fragile truce largely halted major hostilities in 2022, with Houthi forces clashing with Saudi-backed government troops and launching cross-border attacks into Saudi Arabia. The renewed violence threatens to unravel efforts toward a political settlement and has raised concerns about wider regional instability. Government forces have launched counteroffensives on multiple fronts, reporting gains in areas including Taiz, Hodeidah, and al-Jawf. The objective is to recover territory previously held by the Iran-backed Houthis. Fighting has also raged in southern Hodeidah, with reports of dozens of Houthi fighters surrendering during government operations. Simultaneously, Houthi missiles and drones have struck southern Saudi cities for at least two consecutive days, according to coalition reporting. These attacks have affected energy-related sites, exacerbating regional tensions. The U.S. embassy in Yemen stated that the Houthi militia and its Iranian backers had miscalculated by underestimating the resolve of Yemen’s internationally recognized government, armed forces, and people to end Houthi aggression.