Yemeni military and Houthi clashes spark wider war fears
The Yemeni military announced it has targeted Houthi positions across multiple fronts in response to recent attacks by the Iran-backed group on the city of Marib, developments that have heightened concerns about a return to widespread conflict across the country. The Yemeni military did not announce details of the operation or the timing, but said it would take "necessary military actions" if its units continue to be targeted. Colonel Majid Al-Nuzaili, a spokesperson for the Yemeni military, said that Houthi "positions and capabilities" were targeted on several frontlines and that the operation was carried out to defend the security of military forces. Al-Nuzaili accused the Houthis of dragging Yemen towards regional conflicts aligned with "foreign agendas". He also said the group has destroyed Yemen's economy, increased sectarian violence across the country, and is responsible for the ongoing escalation. Meanwhile, local reports on Saturday indicated the resumption of Houthi attacks on civilian areas in Marib. A Yemeni official told The National that more than 17 people were killed and a large number wounded in a Houthi attack on Friday in Marib. According to the official, three others also died in attacks on areas hosting internally displaced persons. The strike came a day after an escalation of Houthi attacks on the oil-rich city of Marib, an assault described as the group's deadliest operation in recent years. The Houthis used ballistic missiles and drones to target several camps in Marib and Hadramout provinces, killing and wounding a number of Yemeni forces. A truce between the Houthis and the Yemeni government, established in 2022, had largely held, but collapsed last month. The recent exchange of attacks represents the most severe escalation between the Houthis and Yemen's internationally recognised government in recent years, a period during which widespread fighting between the two sides had largely subsided. Hans Grundberg, the UN special envoy for Yemen, urged the parties on Friday to exercise restraint. He said: "Yemen today faces a greater danger of a return to wide-scale conflict than at any point since the UN-backed truce of April 2022."