Up to 169 people have been reported killed in Yemen over the past three days as fighting intensifies between Iran-aligned Houthi forces and Saudi-backed government troops for control of strategic areas along the Red Sea coast. The clashes center around key locations in the Taiz, al-Jawf, Marib, and Saada provinces, with the Houthis seeking to consolidate gains made during a recent offensive.

According to Houthi military officials, at least 118 combatants have died in the recent clashes and in Saudi air and artillery strikes. Yemeni government sources report at least 36 fatalities on their side. The Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of targeting civilians in the port city of Mocha, killing six people including two children, as well as striking a prison in al-Jawf province that reportedly resulted in nine detainee deaths. Saudi authorities, who support Yemen’s internationally recognized government, issued alerts regarding potential airstrikes in southern Yemen following recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh—the first such strikes in several years.

The renewed violence follows a major Houthi offensive launched three weeks ago during which the group captured significant portions of Yemen’s Red Sea coastline. This advance marked the largest territorial gains in the four-year period of fighting. Last week, the Houthis took control of Mocha and other strategic cities, thereby securing dominance over the Bab al-Mandab strait. This narrow maritime passage is a vital global shipping route, carrying approximately 10% of all maritime traffic, and its strategic importance has increased amid the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran.

The ongoing clashes are heavily concentrated around the Kahboub mountain range near the Red Sea coast. Control of these heights would provide a tactical advantage over adjacent coastal areas and potentially isolate Aden, the seat of government forces, from western territories. Both Houthi and government sources claim differing levels of control and successful defense efforts in these contested regions.

Since the start of the conflict in 2014, when the Houthis seized Yemen’s capital and ousted the government, a Saudi-led coalition has conducted extensive aerial campaigns in support of the Yemeni government and allied militias. A UN-brokered ceasefire was in place from 2022 until the recent uptick in violence disrupted the relative stability.

Saudi Arabia views the potential Houthi control over Bab al-Mandab—alongside Iranian alliance—as a strategic threat to critical energy export routes. In response, the kingdom has launched hundreds of airstrikes targeting Houthi positions, with limited effectiveness. Reports also suggest that former U.S. President Donald Trump considered military strikes against the Houthis but ultimately refrained. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has offered support for aerial refueling of Saudi aircraft engaged in defensive operations, hinting at possible further international involvement.

The humanitarian impact of the conflict remains severe, with approximately 22 million people requiring aid and around 5.2 million internally displaced prior to the latest fighting. The current hostilities have displaced an additional 100,000 people within Yemen, with tens of thousands more fleeing across the Red Sea to Djibouti. Aid agencies warn that the situation could worsen substantially if hostilities continue. A UN refugee agency spokesperson indicated that internal displacement could rise to 230,000, with more than 10,000 expected to seek refuge abroad.

International actors, including members of the G7, have called on Iran to cease supplying the Houthis with arms and urged the Houthi leadership to halt military actions, particularly attacks on Saudi Arabia, in favor of renewed political dialogue. The ongoing conflict remains a critical concern amid broader regional tensions and the expanding scope of conflict involving multiple state and non-state actors.