Clashes Escalate Between Yemeni Rebels and Government Forces: At Least 154 Dead, Nearly 130,000 Displaced in Two Days

Saudi South Issues Danger Alert Amid Major Houthi Offensive
International Organization for Migration: "Humanitarian Crisis Deepening"

In Yemen's southern highlands, armed clashes between the Iran-backed Houthi rebels and the Saudi Arabia-led coalition-supported Yemeni government forces have intensified, leaving at least 154 people dead and causing a surge in casualties and large-scale displacement over the past two days.

According to AFP and other foreign media on the 22nd (local time), 118 Houthi rebels have been killed in Saudi coalition airstrikes and shelling at major battlegrounds within Yemen, including Taiz, Al Jawf, Marib, and Saada, while 36 Yemeni government troops have also lost their lives.

Refugees fleeing clashes between Houthi rebels and government forces near a domestic displaced persons camp close to Aden, Yemen, on the 19th. Photo by Reuters · Yonhap News

Recently, Houthi rebels have been mounting a large-scale ground offensive to retake key strongholds in Yemen's southern highlands. The Houthis are a Shia minority armed group in Yemen, confronting both the Yemeni government and the Saudi-led coalition, and have continued armed demonstrations targeting Red Sea trade routes.

As the fighting grows fiercer, the humanitarian crisis for civilians is deepening. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has reported that this situation has caused the displacement of 129,438 people across seven provinces in Yemen. The IOM, a United Nations specialized agency, is responsible for managing the safe movement and humanitarian aid for refugees and migrants. The organization noted, "The number of displaced persons continues to increase, and about 3,100 people have crossed the Red Sea to take refuge in Djibouti."

Alongside ground advances, the Houthi rebels are launching continued missile and drone attacks near the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, a vital maritime gateway connecting the Gulf of Aden with the Red Sea, and a key shipping route linking Asia and Europe. The frontlines now appear to be expanding across the border into mainland Saudi Arabia.

Last weekend, when the Houthi rebels attempted to strike the Saudi capital, Riyadh, and continued to threaten areas along the southern border, the Saudi Civil Defense issued danger alarms in Najran Province near the Yemeni border and instructed residents to seek shelter indoors.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.