Yemen conflict escalates as Houthi strikes hit Marib and al-Makha
The Yemeni military launched 181 counter-offensives following Houthi missile and drone strikes that killed at least four civilians and injured eight, marking a significant break in the relative calm that has persisted since April 2022.
Houthi forces have intensified their military campaign in Yemen, launching coordinated missile and drone attacks against the cities of Marib and al-Makha. The strikes, which targeted residential neighbourhoods and critical infrastructure, have resulted in at least four deaths and eight injuries, according to local media reports and government officials.
On Saturday evening, six ballistic missiles and four drones struck residential areas in Marib, wounding four people and damaging civilian infrastructure. The following day, an overnight attack hit the outskirts of the Red Sea port city of al-Makha and a main road within the city. State media and the director of the al-Makha airport confirmed that the violence in al-Makha resulted in four fatalities and eight injuries.
The disruption to infrastructure has had immediate economic consequences. Abdulmalik al-Sharabi, the director general of the government-controlled port facility in al-Makha, confirmed that port operations have been paused due to several days of sustained strikes. The halt in operations underscores the growing impact of the conflict on Yemen’s coastal trade and logistics networks.
In response to the escalation, the Yemeni military reported conducting 181 operations against Houthi positions across several governorates on Saturday and Sunday. Military officials stated that these counter-offensives resulted in the killing and wounding of dozens of Houthi members. The Houthis confirmed the death of four of their own fighters but did not provide further details regarding the circumstances of these casualties.
This renewed violence marks a significant departure from the relative lull in fighting that has characterised Yemen since April 2022. The conflict, which began nearly 12 years ago between government forces and the Houthis, has seen the group control the capital, Sanaa, and other provinces since September 2014. The current escalation follows a deadly incident earlier this month, where Houthi strikes on military camps in Marib and Hadramout killed at least 30 government soldiers, described as the deadliest single episode of the conflict in years.
Fighting has since resumed in multiple provinces, including al-Jawf, al-Dhalea, and Taiz. The rapid deterioration of security in these regions suggests a broadening of the conflict beyond the immediate frontlines, raising concerns about further destabilisation in a country already grappling with a prolonged humanitarian and political crisis.
