Yemen War Intensifies: Dozens Dead Amidst Escalating Humanitarian Crisis

Fighters from the Saudi-led coalition maintain a position during clashes with Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen's northwestern al-Jawf province on November 2, 2026, as reported by AFP. Dozens perished in Yemen on Friday when a missile struck a market in Taiz governorate, with both sides of the protracted conflict trading blame for the attack. This incident occurs one month after Yemen’s internationally recognized government initiated its “Dawn of Yemen” offensive against the Iran-aligned Houthi rebel group, following the rebels' seizure of significant territory along the Red Sea coast. The ongoing fighting exacerbates the humanitarian crisis, leading to hundreds of thousands of displacements.

Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council has affirmed the government's commitment to its “irreversible” objective of dismantling Houthi military capabilities and restoring sovereignty. Observers suggest this could lead to a worsening of the conflict before any resolution is reached. Here’s a breakdown of the situation:

What is Operation Dawn of Yemen?

Launched on October 5 by Rashad al-Alimi, head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, the operation aims to reclaim areas under Houthi control and liberate the capital city, Sanaa, which has been held by the rebels since September 2014. The offensive relies on air support from the Saudi-led coalition and ground operations by government military coalitions and units to weaken the Houthis. A key objective in the Red Sea corridor has been to break the Houthis’ maritime chokehold and secure the Bab al-Mandeb strait, especially after the group captured the strategic port city of Mocha (Mokha) in September.

Territorial Gains by Government Forces

Following the operation's launch, the government reported recapturing positions around Dhubab and Bab al-Mandeb on the same day, although the extent of these gains remains unconfirmed. The government also claimed the capture of mountain positions in Haifan, western Taiz, and around al-Waziiya. By October 13, fighting had extended to Marib, with government forces asserting advances around the Maas camp and north of Harib. However, territory was lost in Taiz governorate, resulting in a Houthi siege that has now entered its first month, severely impacting the city. On Friday, government forces announced the recapture of numerous areas within the governorate, including al-Nidani village, Shaab al-Sarari, large sections of the Sanamat area, and the Ribat al-Qarn area in Dhi al-Barh. Government troops and coalition fighters also secured the Tavat Wathib and Habil al-Saram hills on the Al-Aqroud front. They reported executing 1,211 operations against Houthi positions across various battlefronts and confirmed control over new positions on the Tur al-Bahah front in Lahij governorate. Despite these efforts, taking back Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, remains a distant goal, according to Thomas Bonnie James, an assistant professor in politics and international relations at Aberdeen University. He noted that Sanaa’s mountainous terrain makes it easily defensible, a challenge that a stronger Saudi-Emirati coalition failed to overcome between 2015 and the present.

Government Achievements Since Operation Dawn of Yemen

James suggested that Operation Dawn of Yemen is primarily designed to exert pressure on the Houthis rather than achieve their total defeat. He explained that the operation aims to increase the cost of the war for the Houthis and strengthen Saudi Arabia's negotiating position before any peace deal. The Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council reported on Thursday that the armed forces had conducted 40,761 military operations since the operation began, resulting in the “neutralisation” of approximately 20,000 Houthi leaders and elements, and over 5,000 vehicles. Previous military command announcements indicated 17,000 targeting operations in the initial weeks and daily figures ranging from 951 to 1,272 operations throughout the month. Last month, the Yemeni government also reported killing or wounding 1,540 Houthis in a single 24-hour period. The government stated last week that 16,100 Houthi operatives and commanders had been killed or wounded since October 5. The Houthis, however, reported that the group had been subjected to 3,930 raids and missiles up until early November. Al Jazeera has not independently verified these figures.

Houthi Counterattacks

The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, have been responsible for hundreds of casualties since the escalation began. Yemen’s government forces accused the Houthis of an attack on the al-Hadara market in Taiz governorate on Friday, which resulted in numerous civilian deaths and injuries. Colonel Majed al-Nazili, a government military spokesperson, described the attack as a war crime, alleging the Houthis used ballistic missiles. The Iran-backed Houthis denied responsibility, attributing the attack to Saudi Arabia, which supports the Yemeni government. Since taking control of the capital and state institutions in 2014, the Houthis have gained access to a significant arsenal of former Yemeni military weapons. With external support from Iran and reliance on international black markets, their military capabilities have reportedly advanced, enabling increasingly long-range missile strikes that have reached targets across Saudi Arabia and even Israel. One of the Houthis’ recent deadly attacks targeted government security recruits in Shabwah, resulting in at least 70 casualties.

Humanitarian Impact in Yemen

The ongoing conflict between the government and the Houthis is pushing Yemen towards a humanitarian catastrophe. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on Friday that over 323,000 people have been displaced since the escalation began in August, with Taiz governorate bearing the brunt of this displacement. More than two in five internally displaced persons in Yemen are in Taiz, where the Houthi blockade continues to encircle the city, cutting off essential supplies to approximately 800,000 people. The UN Human Rights Office has documented 281 civilian casualties since August, including 69 deaths and 212 injuries, with children constituting over one-third of these casualties. Salah Ahmed Ghaleb al-Majidi, acting director of the governorate’s Siege Affairs Department in Taiz, described the situation as “catastrophic,” with essential supplies like medical provisions, food, fuel, and water unable to reach the governorate due to the Houthi blockade. A recent Al Jazeera report indicated that remaining diesel stocks in Taiz have dwindled to less than 48 hours. Hospitals are warning of potential shutdowns in departments and medical centers, including emergency services, once fuel reserves are depleted. Ilan Abdul Haw, Taiz’s deputy governor for health affairs, stated that approximately 40 percent of hospitals have closed, while the remaining ones operate at half capacity due to fuel shortages.

The Future of the Yemen War

James predicts that conditions for Yemenis caught in the conflict will worsen as winter approaches and the siege on Taiz intensifies. He expressed significant concern for the residents of Taiz, over 800,000 of whom have been cut off from aid since the Houthi encirclement of the city in early October. He highlighted the dire situation with winter approaching, dwindling aid funds, and the city under siege, emphasizing the severe implications of continued fighting for ordinary Yemenis. The conflict has also extended beyond Yemen's borders, with the Houthis continuing attacks on Saudi airports and oil facilities. James observed that the Houthis are targeting Saudi Arabia almost daily, and Saudi Arabia has resumed direct bombing within Yemen for the first time since 2022. He noted that both sides are inflicting significant damage, which could escalate the war. Furthermore, other regional conflicts could draw Yemen into a broader war, and vice versa, particularly given the ongoing deadlock in the US-Israel conflict with Iran. James concluded that Yemen is now intertwined with the wider conflict involving Iran, suggesting that any further US strikes on Iran could prompt Iran to leverage the Houthis to increase pressure on Saudi Arabia.