Fighting in Yemen has intensified this week as the Houthi militia captured the port city of Mokha, the town of Dhubab, and the island of Perim, all strategic locations near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, according to Yemeni government sources cited by Reuters. These areas had been under control of forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognized government.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and has become a critical passage for Saudi oil exports, especially after Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Control over this strait provides Iran and its Houthi allies additional leverage in their broader conflict with the United States and its allies.
Escalation Includes Cross-Border Attacks
The conflict has spilled over into Saudi Arabia, which is a regional rival of Iran and a close ally of the United States. The Houthis have launched dozens of ballistic missiles and drones at multiple Saudi cities this week. In response, Saudi forces conducted dozens of airstrikes across four Yemeni provinces, escalating the violence further.
Farea Al-Muslimi, a Yemen researcher at Chatham House, described the situation as a “full-scale war” that is actively unfolding, despite the absence of that designation officially.
Shifting Military and Political Landscape
This escalation follows a relative calm after a UN-brokered truce in 2022, which ended years of open conflict between the Saudi-backed government and the Iran-supported Houthis. The Houthis currently control Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, large parts of the north and center, and now much of the western coast, including the newly seized territories near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The internationally recognized government operates from Aden and parts of the south and east, often with Saudi support. Meanwhile, southern secessionists backed by the United Arab Emirates have created further fragmentation, although the Southern Transitional Council was dissolved early this year.
Experts note that the Houthis are now militarily and institutionally stronger than in 2015, while their opponents remain divided. Saudi Arabia’s strategy has shifted from direct military intervention to providing increased military, technical, and logistical aid to allied forces on the ground. Analysts suggest Riyadh is aiming to restore deterrence and negotiate from a stronger position rather than seeking an outright military victory.
Role of Pakistan and Regional Implications
Recently signed agreements between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan have yet to result in a military response. Pakistani officials reportedly indicate no immediate plans for direct involvement but confirm readiness to act if necessary. Analysts believe Pakistan will seek to maintain its role as a mediator while providing intelligence and support to Saudi Arabia, careful to avoid antagonizing Iran.
Humanitarian Impact
The renewed fighting has worsened Yemen’s already dire humanitarian crisis. The World Health Organization reports nearly 200 fatalities in the recent clashes, and the International Organization for Migration estimates around 18,500 displaced individuals have fled conflict zones, many repeatedly displaced over years of war. UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg has warned of a hard return to war realities, with previous conflict years having resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and widespread suffering.
Human Rights Watch researchers emphasize the immense civilian toll as fighting jeopardizes aid efforts and security for millions in need.
