SANAA: More than 150 people have reportedly been killed in two days of renewed fighting in Yemen between Iran-backed Houthi forces and Saudi-supported government troops, military sources from both sides told AFP on Tuesday.
Houthi military sources said 118 people had been killed in Saudi airstrikes, clashes and artillery attacks across the governorates of Taiz, Al-Jawf, Marib and Saada. Government sources, meanwhile, reported 36 deaths among their forces.
The escalation has also raised concerns in neighbouring Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom’s civil defence agency issued a temporary warning on Tuesday over a potential threat in the southern Najran Province, marking the first such alert since the Houthis attacked Riyadh over the weekend.
The National Early Warning Platform advised residents to stay indoors and avoid open areas. The warning was withdrawn shortly afterwards.
UN warns of growing displacement
The United Nations has warned that the renewed violence could force thousands more Yemenis to flee the country, with up to 10,000 people potentially crossing the Red Sea into Djibouti.
UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch told reporters in Geneva that intensified fighting could also increase internal displacement in Yemen to more than 230,000 people.
More than 3,000 Yemenis have already crossed the Red Sea to Djibouti within a week, while over 100,000 people have been displaced inside Yemen by the latest violence.
Baloch said the refugee agency was preparing for more than 10,000 arrivals in Djibouti in the coming months, particularly after mid-October when sea conditions are expected to become more favourable for crossings.
The latest offensive began after the Houthis seized parts of Yemen’s Red Sea coastline earlier this month, triggering heavy fighting, civilian displacement and concerns over international trade and energy supplies.
UNHCR estimates that more than 5.2 million people were already internally displaced in Yemen before the latest escalation.
Baloch said the renewed conflict was worsening an already severe humanitarian situation, with around 22 million people in need of humanitarian assistance.
He also highlighted a major funding gap, saying UNHCR’s Yemen operation was only 18% funded for 2026. The agency estimates that $25 million is urgently required to provide assistance to around 231,000 people.
UNHCR’s operations in Djibouti are similarly underfunded, with only 15% of its requirements covered. The agency is seeking $13.5 million to provide newly arrived refugees with registration, reception, protection and other essential services.
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