Renewed Yemen fighting kills scores as Houthis and Saudi-backed forces trade attacks

Floyd Brenz., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
September 18, 2026

Photo Courtesy: AFP

Renewed fighting in Yemen has left scores of combatants and civilians dead as Houthi forces, Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s internationally recognized government exchanged attacks, adding to wider instability in the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia reported its first death from the latest Houthi attacks, after debris from an intercepted drone killed a Yemeni resident in the city of Taif. Two others, including a Saudi woman and a Pakistani man, were also injured.

In Yemen, Houthi-linked media reported Saudi airstrikes in Hajjah and Taiz provinces, while fighting also continued between Houthi forces and Saudi-backed government troops in several areas.

The renewed violence has triggered another humanitarian crisis, with the International Organization for Migration reporting more than 100,000 people displaced inside Yemen. Thousands have also fled across the Red Sea toward Djibouti.

The escalation is also raising concerns over regional security and global energy supplies, as the fighting threatens key maritime routes in the Red Sea and comes amid the broader conflict involving Iran and other Middle Eastern powers.

The latest clashes mark a sharp escalation in Yemen after years of relative calm following a 2022 truce, with renewed fighting now creating fresh risks for civilians, shipping and regional stability.