Yemen conflict escalates as Houthi attacks kill dozens

The fragile 2022 truce in Yemen is unraveling as Iran-backed Houthi rebels escalate attacks against Saudi-backed government forces and commercial shipping, raising fears of a return to full-scale civil war and a new front in the broader Middle East conflict. At least 58 government soldiers were killed in Houthi missile and drone strikes on military camps in Marib and Hadramawt on August 6, the deadliest such attack since the truce began Source: El Mundo. The Houthis have also intensified assaults on the strategic port of Mokha, killing at least seven civilians on August 9 Source: El Día, and have launched attacks on Saudi territory, wounding 11 civilians in Najran Source: El Confidencial.

Maritime threat

With the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed by Iran, the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb have become vital for Saudi oil exports. The Houthis have declared a naval blockade on Saudi-linked vessels and attacked commercial ships, killing crew members. On August 11, a missile attack on a vessel near Bab el-Mandeb killed at least two crew members, a Pakistani and an Indonesian, according to security firm Vanguard Tech Source: Diario Libre. Yemeni authorities reported four deaths, including three Pakistanis and one Indonesian Source: Clarin.

International response

Saudi Arabia has announced a multinational naval coalition to protect Red Sea shipping, with support from 14 countries, including Turkey and Pakistan Source: El Mundo. The UN special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, warned that the recent attacks have put Yemen at the greatest risk of a return to large-scale conflict since 2022 Source: Excelsior. Meanwhile, the Pentagon acknowledged that US strikes against the Houthis in 2025 likely killed 153 civilians, attributing the deaths to three airstrikes Source: Infobae.

What's next

Both sides are preparing for further escalation. The Houthis have vowed to continue attacks, while the Yemeni government has promised to respond "at the appropriate time and place" Source: La Vanguardia. The international community is urging restraint, but the risk of a wider regional war remains high.