Yemen launches major offensive as Iran-backed Houthi conflict widens

Photo — Zahra Baghi / Pexels

The developments indicate a widening regional crisis involving Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Iran and the United States. Yemeni government forces say they have struck Houthi military targets in Sanaa and repelled attacks near Taiz, where renewed fighting has displaced nearly 200,000 people since early September. The Houthis have claimed responsibility for missile and drone attacks on an Aramco facility in Riyadh, while a projectile reportedly damaged a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has said the waterway will remain closed until its conditions are met, raising the risk of disruption to global energy and maritime trade. Reporting also indicates that diplomatic efforts remain possible, but the situation is rapidly evolving.

Sources: Associated Press, BBC News, The New York Times, The Independent, Al Jazeera