A Houthi official says Saudi airstrikes in Yemen’s Taiz province killed three people, including two children, as fighting between the Iran-aligned Houthis and Saudi-backed forces intensifies across the region.
The reported deaths come amid a wider escalation in Yemen, where the Houthis have stepped up attacks against Saudi Arabia while Saudi forces continue launching strikes against Houthi positions.
The latest violence is unfolding as the Houthis expand their control along parts of Yemen’s Red Sea coast and seize strategically important territory and islands, including the Greater and Lesser Hanish islands. Their advances are raising concerns about security along major international shipping routes.
The Houthis have also launched missiles and drones toward Saudi targets, including a military air base in Khamis Mushait. The attacks have heightened concerns about Saudi Arabia’s oil infrastructure and the security of vital energy routes.
The conflict is also having wider economic consequences. Renewed attacks and disruptions to Saudi energy infrastructure have contributed to rising oil prices, with Brent crude recently moving above $107 a barrel as traders assess the potential impact on global supplies.
Saudi authorities have issued emergency alerts in several cities as Houthi attacks have expanded. The Saudi Civil Defence later said the immediate danger had passed in six cities, including Jeddah, Abha, Jazan and Yanbu, a major Red Sea oil port.
The escalation comes as diplomatic efforts over the Strait of Hormuz have also stalled. Gulf states postponed planned talks with Iran amid disagreements over how to address the growing regional crisis and the disruption of a crucial global shipping route.
Humanitarian concerns are also mounting in Yemen. Renewed fighting has displaced tens of thousands of people and added pressure to communities already affected by years of conflict and humanitarian hardship.
The latest developments highlight how the renewed confrontation involving the Houthis, Saudi Arabia and Iran could further destabilize the Middle East while threatening civilian lives, energy supplies and international shipping.
Swifteradio.com
