Houthi offensive opens new front as Yemen death toll hits 154 in two days

New Delhi: The conflict between Iran-backed Houthis and Saudi-backed government forces in Yemen has killed 154 people over the past two days, according to military sources from both sides, as a sharp escalation in the conflict has combined intense ground battles inside Yemen with renewed missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia.

Al Jazeera, citing AFP, reported that the latest fighting has caused heavy casualties on both sides as Houthi forces and government troops clash across several parts of Yemen. The figures have not been independently verified, but the deaths underline the intensity of the latest escalation after weeks of renewed tension between the two sides.

The latest violence comes after the Houthis stepped up their military activity along Yemen’s western and southern fronts while also increasing attacks across the border into Saudi Arabia. Riyadh has accused the Iran-backed group of targeting its territory with ballistic missiles and drones, including attacks directed towards the capital and areas hosting energy infrastructure.

Saudi Arabia said its air defences intercepted a missile headed towards Riyadh on Saturday. Houthi claims that some oil facilities were damaged have not been independently confirmed, while the continuing attacks have increased pressure on Saudi Arabia to strengthen its air-defence response.

The fighting inside Yemen has meanwhile focused on strategically important territory near the Red Sea. As RNA Media reported earlier, Houthi forces have been pushing towards the Kahboub mountains across Taiz and Lahij provinces after making gains around Mokha and Perim Island, with clashes reported around Al-Wazi’iyah and Ras al-Ara.

The area is significant because the Kahboub highlands overlook approaches to the Bab al-Mandab Strait, one of the world’s key maritime chokepoints connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Saudi-backed government forces are seeking to prevent the Houthis from consolidating positions that could give them greater leverage over the routes linking the western coast with Aden and southern Yemen.

The renewed Houthi offensive has also prompted a stronger response from Saudi Arabia, including air strikes against Houthi positions. Riyadh is simultaneously seeking assistance from partners as it faces a combination of cross-border missile and drone threats and an expanding Houthi presence in strategically important parts of Yemen.

Britain has agreed to provide Saudi Arabia with defensive air-to-air refuelling support after Riyadh requested military assistance. A Royal Air Force Voyager is expected to operate from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus in the coming days to support Saudi aircraft intercepting incoming threats, with the British mission initially expected to last several weeks and not involve offensive strikes inside Yemen.

The escalation is also testing Saudi Arabia’s recently signed defence pact with Pakistan and Turkiye. Pakistan has reiterated its commitment to Saudi security, while its military has said Pakistani personnel are already present in the kingdom under existing arrangements. Islamabad has not announced a new combat deployment against the Houthis and has also maintained contacts with Iran as part of efforts aimed at preventing further regional escalation.

Turkiye has likewise condemned the attacks and expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia. The Turkish foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, has said Ankara could meet Saudi Arabia’s technical military requirements, but there has been no announcement of a new Turkish combat deployment.

The international response has widened as the fighting intensifies. G7 foreign ministers on Monday called on Iran to stop arming and supporting the Houthis, while Tehran has maintained that the Yemeni group takes its own operational decisions.

The United States has so far not committed to any military action against the Houthis. The latest fighting now places Saudi Arabia under pressure on two fronts, with Houthi forces seeking additional strategic ground inside Yemen while continuing attacks across the border.

The combination of the renewed battlefield offensive, attacks around Saudi territory and requests for outside military assistance has raised the stakes around the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab, while the extent of further involvement by Saudi partners remains uncertain.