Civilians among at least 60 killed in Yemen as ground fighting escalates
Houthi rebel offensive against government forces on west coast leads to some of deadliest clashes in years
TL;DR
- Over 60 people, including civilians, were killed in clashes between Yemen's government and Houthi rebels.
- The fighting is part of a Houthi offensive on Yemen's western coast, specifically in western Taiz and southern Hodeidah.
- A missile strike in Taiz killed six civilians traveling by bus.
- The current clashes are among the deadliest in years, occurring after the July collapse of a ceasefire.
- The Houthis are attempting to capture strategic hills overlooking the Bab al-Mandeb strait to advance towards port cities.
- The Bab al-Mandeb strait is a crucial maritime chokepoint for global trade, with about 10% of global maritime trade passing through it.
- Disruptions in Bab al-Mandeb could further increase the cost of global goods.
- Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war since 2014, leading to significant loss of life and a severe humanitarian crisis.