Live updates: Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan sign NATO-style defense pact amid escalating Iran conflict
Houthi rebels in Yemen have launched a large-scale military operation against government forces, resulting in significant casualties. This escalation occurs amidst ongoing regional tensions and a complex history of civil war involving Saudi-led coalitions and Iranian influence.
Why it matters
The conflict in Yemen remains a critical flashpoint for regional stability in the Middle East, involving multiple international powers and humanitarian crises.
Link Copied! Why is there fighting in Yemen? By Mostafa Salem , Nadeen Ebrahim and Sana Noor Haq Members of Houthi security forces inspect a destroyed car, which was hit during airstrikes in Sana'a, Yemen, on March 26. Mohammed Hamoud/Getty Images Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed heavy strikes on government military camps in two eastern provinces this week , reportedly killing 30 troops.
The Houthis declared a “large scale” operation on Thursday with ballistic missiles and drones in several areas of Yemen, citing Saudi military buildups “aimed at escalating the aggression” in areas under their control. The group offered no evidence, but Reuters said at least 30 Yemeni government troops were killed by Houthi salvoes in Marib and Hadhramawt, citing government sources.
The latest attacks marked a spike in hostilities between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed, internationally recognized central government established in 2022 to unify fragmented factions against them.
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