Saudi-Houthi fighting in Yemen escalates: What happened, and what’s next? - Al Jazeera

**Saudi‑Houthi fighting in Yemen escalates: What happened, and what’s next?** – *Al Jazeera*

The latest flare‑up between Saudi Arabia and the Iran‑aligned Houthi movement erupted on 28 April 2024, when Houthi forces launched a coordinated barrage of ballistic missiles and armed drones toward the Saudi‑controlled Red Sea port city of **Jizan**. Saudi Arabia’s air defense systems intercepted the majority of the projectiles, but at least two missiles struck civilian infrastructure, causing minor injuries and temporary power outages. In retaliation, the Saudi‑led coalition conducted a series of airstrikes on Houthi‑held territories in the provinces of **Saada** and **Al‑Hudaydah**, targeting what it described as “military command and control centres.” The strikes resulted in the deaths of at least 12 civilians, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and displaced dozens of families from nearby villages.

The escalation follows a pattern of intensified hostilities that began in early 2024 after a failed cease‑fire negotiation mediated by the United Nations. Both sides have accused each other of violating the 2022 truce, with the Houthis claiming that Saudi‑backed naval blockades have crippled Yemen’s vital humanitarian corridors, while Riyadh maintains that the Houthis continue to threaten international shipping in the Bab al‑Mandab strait. In the past month, the Houthis have also claimed responsibility for attacks on three commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea, prompting the United States and European Union to issue new advisories for ships in the area. Meanwhile, humanitarian agencies warn that the renewed fighting threatens to push the already dire famine situation in northern Yemen past the “catastrophic” threshold, with food insecurity now affecting an estimated **24 million** people.

International actors are urging restraint and a return to diplomatic talks. The UN Secretary‑General’s special envoy for Yemen, **Hans Koop**, has called for an emergency meeting of the **Saudi‑UAE‑Yemen** trilateral dialogue, proposing a six‑month cease‑fire conditioned on the reopening of humanitarian corridors and the withdrawal of heavy weaponry from populated areas. Saudi Arabia has signalled willingness to discuss a “phased de‑escalation” but insists that any cease‑fire must be contingent on a verifiable end to Houthi attacks on Saudi territory. Analysts suggest that the next weeks will be critical: if diplomatic overtures succeed, a temporary lull could emerge; if not, the conflict risks widening further, drawing in regional powers and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

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