Yemen's Houthi Offensive Displaces 130,000 as Rebels Seize Key Strait
Iran-backed Houthi forces are advancing across western Yemen, forcing more than 130,000 people to flee their homes and capturing the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a vital global shipping route.
The Houthis, an Iran-backed militia, have opened a new front in western Yemen, seizing territory along the Red Sea coast and capturing the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a strategic waterway linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden [247210][244664]. The rebels also seized the Greater and Lesser Hanish islands in the southern Red Sea, giving them greater ability to control a key shipping route [242070].
More than 130,000 people have been forced from their homes, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) [247358]. At least 100,000 people have fled since early September alone, with many crossing the Bab el-Mandeb Strait by boat to Djibouti [244664][247065]. Displaced Yemenis who reached Djibouti described a terrifying journey, with gunfire everywhere [244664].
The Houthis are also pushing toward Marib, an oil-rich province, where they are advancing on government forces backed by Saudi Arabia [243929]. Fierce battles have broken out between the Houthis and Saudi-backed government forces as the group seeks to expand its territory [246160].
Saudi Arabia, which leads a military coalition backing Yemen's internationally recognized government, has intensified its air campaign. The Houthis say Saudi Arabia launched 300 airstrikes on Yemen in one week, which, if confirmed, would be one of the highest weekly totals in recent months [244575]. Yemeni warplanes struck Houthi positions east of Taiz city, targeting areas around Al-Qasr roundabout [244675]. A Saudi-led coalition airstrike killed one person in Taiz, according to Houthi-run media [246702].
The fighting has killed tens of thousands of people and pushed Yemen into a severe humanitarian crisis, with half the population depending on humanitarian aid [244575][242818]. A UNHCR spokesperson said the ongoing conflict is making the country's already severe humanitarian crisis even worse [247358].
Yemeni government forces have recaptured two key positions between the provinces of Taiz and Lahj, retaking Al-Bazla mountain and the Madkhula area after clashes with Houthi fighters [244677].