Yemen's Houthi rebels have accused Saudi Arabia of launching a series of deadly airstrikes that have resulted in the deaths of civilians and prison inmates. The strikes are part of a broader conflict that has seen the Houthis seize strategic territory, heightening fears over global trade and shipping through the vital Bab al-Mandab strait. The recent takeover has left hundreds dead and forced thousands to flee, with the United Nations forecasting that the number of displaced could swell from over 130,000 to more than 230,000 in the coming months.
The Houthi gains have cemented the hold of Iran and its regional allies over two key waterways in the Middle East - the straits of Bab al-Mandab and Hormuz - which are major shipping arteries for global flows of energy. Saudi Arabia, which backs Yemen's internationally-recognised government, has sought to contain the Houthi advance with airstrikes. The Houthis have retaliated with attacks on Saudi territory, including a strike targeting the capital Riyadh for the first time in years.
The Houthis have reported that a strike on a prison killed nine detainees, while they also accused the Saudis of killing six civilians, including two children, in the port city of Mocha. Two more civilians were killed by strikes in Yemen's Al-Jawf province, the Houthis added. A mother and child were killed, while her husband and two of her other children were wounded in strikes carried out by the Saudi enemy in the Al-Batin area, Houthi media said, citing the Houthi health ministry.
As violence has escalated, thousands of families have been forced from their homes, many for a second or third time. Arwa, a mother of four children, told AFP at a camp for displaced people near Aden that she hopes to find a house to live in with her children, saying they are exhausted by the heat, the dust, and the humiliation. The Middle East war began in February with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which prompted the Islamic republic to retaliate with attacks around the region and by mobilising its allies.
Fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni forces has in the past two days killed 154 people, military sources from both sides told AFP. The death toll from Saudi airstrikes, clashes, and artillery fire in the governorates of Taiz, Al-Jawf, Marib, and Saada stands at 118, Houthi military sources said, while government sources reported 36 killed in their ranks. Saudi Arabia's civil defence agency on Tuesday issued a warning of potential danger in the country's south near the Yemen border.
G7 leaders representing Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States called on the Houthis to "immediately cease all military actions". They also demanded the Houthis end "all threats and attacks against civilian shipping, and to return to the political process in good faith", while urging Tehran "to end its arming of and support for the Houthis". Britain has agreed to provide some military support to Saudi Arabia, defence minister Luke Pollard said, while France also pledged to help secure Saudi energy infrastructure.
The Houthis have carried out attacks against facilities belonging to Saudi oil giant Aramco in the Red Sea port city of Yanbu. Yemen's government and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have reportedly requested help from US President Donald Trump in fighting the Houthis. On Tuesday in New York, Trump was due to meet with leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
Key points
- The conflict has resulted in over 130,000 displaced people, with the number expected to swell to over 230,000 in the coming months.
- The Houthi takeover has heightened fears over global trade and shipping through the vital Bab al-Mandab strait.
- G7 leaders have called on the Houthis to cease all military actions and end threats against civilian shipping.
