Fighting in Yemen has intensified as Houthi forces launch attacks on Saudi Arabia and Yemeni government troops attempt to regain territory near the Red Sea.
The latest escalation has affected airports, energy facilities and key transport routes. Meanwhile, civilians in Yemen face worsening food shortages and growing pressure on hospitals.
According to Al Jazeera, both sides have stepped up military operations around Taiz and the strategic Bab al-Mandeb strait.
The renewed fighting follows the breakdown of a ceasefire agreed in 2022.
Houthi attacks target Saudi airports and oil facilities
The Houthis have claimed responsibility for several recent attacks on Saudi infrastructure.
On Wednesday, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group had targeted Saudi Aramco facilities in Dhahran, Riyadh’s international airport and an oil refinery in the capital.
He also warned that attacks on Saudi airports and energy facilities would continue.
A Saudi Energy Ministry official confirmed that a building belonging to Aramco in Dhahran had been hit.
The official said the incident caused a limited fire but resulted in no casualties.
Separately, Saudi-backed Yemeni forces reported intercepting a drone heading towards Medina and a missile directed at Riyadh on Thursday.
Riyadh airport attacks cause casualties
Recent attacks on Saudi airports have caused significant disruption.
According to Al Jazeera, Houthi attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport killed 14 people and injured more than 300.
Two people were also reportedly killed in an attack involving Abha International Airport in southern Saudi Arabia.
Saudi authorities said Riyadh airport would remain closed until at least Saturday.
Several airlines cancelled flights following the attacks.
The disruption has raised concerns about the wider economic consequences of the conflict.
Fighting continues near Yemen’s Red Sea coast
Inside Yemen, government forces have launched an operation known as Dawn of Yemen.
The campaign aims to regain coastal territory recently captured by the Houthis near the Bab al-Mandeb strait.
The waterway connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and serves as an important route for international shipping.
Yemeni government forces say they have retaken positions in Sabr al-Mawadim and al-Sarari in Taiz governorate.
They also reported repelling a major Houthi attack west of Taiz city.
On Wednesday, a government military spokesperson claimed that forces had conducted 2,309 targeting operations and destroyed 460 Houthi military vehicles.
These figures have not been independently verified.
Saudi-led coalition launches strikes in Yemen
The Saudi-led coalition has also carried out airstrikes against Houthi positions, including in Sanaa.
The Houthis have controlled the Yemeni capital since 2014.
According to Al Jazeera’s reporting, coalition strikes have helped Yemeni government forces advance in some areas.
However, control of several positions remains contested.
Houthi fighters have launched counterattacks in an effort to regain territory.
The fighting has been particularly intense around Taiz, where mountainous terrain and access to the Red Sea coast give the area strategic importance.
Yemen civilians face worsening humanitarian conditions
The renewed fighting has increased pressure on communities already affected by years of conflict.
In Taiz, restrictions and fighting have disrupted access to food, fuel and other essential supplies.
The United Nations World Food Programme warned on Wednesday that wheat flour stocks were nearly exhausted.
Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross reported a sharp increase in patients with conflict-related injuries.
Hospitals in Marib, Taiz and areas along Yemen’s Red Sea coast have faced particularly heavy demand.
Some medical facilities have reportedly received more than 700 wounded patients in a single week.
These developments have raised concerns about the ability of hospitals and humanitarian organisations to meet growing needs.
Red Sea shipping faces further uncertainty
The escalation has also raised concerns about international trade.
The Bab al-Mandeb strait is a major shipping route linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
Earlier this year, the Houthis began targeting Saudi-linked shipping around the waterway.
Saudi Arabia has increasingly relied on Red Sea routes for oil exports following disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
As a result, further attacks could affect energy shipments and commercial transport.
Saudi officials have said they will not allow threats to the country’s security or freedom of navigation.
Calls for stability as Yemen conflict escalates
The latest developments show how fighting inside Yemen has expanded into a wider regional confrontation.
Both Houthi forces and Saudi-backed Yemeni government troops continue to conduct military operations.
However, the humanitarian consequences remain severe.
Food shortages, damaged infrastructure and rising numbers of wounded patients are placing additional pressure on civilians.
The renewed escalation has also created uncertainty for regional transport, energy facilities and international shipping.
With fighting continuing around Taiz and attacks affecting Saudi Arabia, the prospects for renewed stability remain uncertain.