‘Everyone lives in fear’: Yemenis dread renewed war as Houthis launch attacks

Renewed hostilities between Houthi rebels and the Yemeni government have sparked widespread fear among citizens that the country is sliding back into full-scale civil war. The 2022 truce, which had provided a period of relative calm, has been effectively upended by a recent surge in Houthi attacks on government-held areas, including the port of Mokha and the oil-rich Marib province. According to military sources, a recent Houthi offensive resulted in the deaths of 58 government troops, while shelling on residential areas and displacement camps in Marib has also claimed civilian lives. Residents describe a climate of constant panic, with many fearing that the violence will once again force them into displacement. One resident in Mokha told AFP that the fear of renewed conflict is haunting families, noting that the recent explosions have revived the trauma of the years-long war. The Houthis have also announced a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia and increased their provocations against government forces. Marib, which hosts 60 percent of Yemen’s internally displaced population, has become a primary flashpoint, leaving many residents questioning where they could possibly flee if the fighting intensifies.