ADEN — Houthi forces intensified attacks on Saudi-backed Yemeni government troops, killing dozens of soldiers in coordinated strikes that marked one of the deadliest escalations in Yemen in recent years and raised concerns that the country's long-frozen civil war could slide back into full-scale conflict.
Officials aligned with Yemen's internationally recognized government said Houthi fighters launched coordinated missile, drone and artillery attacks against military positions in Marib and Hadramout provinces. Government officials reported that at least 30 soldiers were killed and about 50 others were wounded, while other official accounts later put the death toll significantly higher as additional casualties were confirmed. Reuters reported that Saudi officials separately said 17 pro-government troops were killed in one attack near the Saudi border.
The Houthi movement, which controls much of northern Yemen including the capital Sanaa, claimed responsibility for the operations through its military spokesman, saying the attacks targeted what it described as hostile military positions. The group's statements could not be independently verified.
Saudi Arabia also reported cross-border attacks, saying Houthi drones and missiles struck areas near the kingdom's southern frontier, wounding 11 civilians. Saudi authorities said air defense systems responded to the threat and warned of the possibility of additional attacks against civilian infrastructure and economic facilities.
The escalation comes amid heightened regional tensions linked to the broader confrontation involving Iran, the United States and Gulf states. Saudi officials have said intelligence assessments indicate the kingdom faces an elevated risk of coordinated attacks by Iranian-aligned groups, including the Houthis, although Tehran has repeatedly denied directing such operations.
The renewed fighting also threatens maritime security around the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a strategic shipping corridor connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. In recent weeks, the Houthis have announced measures targeting Saudi-linked shipping, while commercial vessels and insurers have faced growing security concerns as attacks expanded beyond Yemen's front lines.
The United Nations has repeatedly urged all parties to exercise restraint and protect civilians, warning that renewed large-scale fighting would worsen an already severe humanitarian crisis in Yemen. Mediation efforts led by the United Nations and Oman have continued, but diplomats say prospects for reviving a durable ceasefire have become increasingly uncertain as military operations intensify.
