SANAA, 5 September, 2026(Kamran Raja): Fresh fighting between Yemen’s Saudi-backed government forces and Houthi rebels has killed more than 60 people, including civilians, according to Yemeni military and medical sources. Three Yemeni military sources said that 26 government troops were killed during several hours of clashes in southwestern Yemen. Houthi medical and military sources reported that 31 rebel fighters were also killed. A medical source in the government-held city of Taiz said a missile strike killed six civilians travelling on a bus and wounded seven others. A government official blamed the attack on the Houthis.The latest fighting erupted over control of strategic areas providing access to the Red Sea and came after some of the deadliest clashes in years on Friday. The violence follows the collapse of a fragile ceasefire that had been in place since 2022. A military officer in Taiz said the coming hours would be decisive after Houthi fighters seized several positions near the city. Government forces have reportedly received reinforcements from Aden as they attempt to prevent the Houthis from cutting off the government-held port city of Mokha and advancing toward areas near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. According to an AFP tally compiled from multiple sources, Friday’s fighting alone killed 129 people.
The strategic importance of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait has increased amid disruptions to regional maritime routes. The narrow waterway is a major international shipping passage connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is an important route for global energy supplies.A Yemeni military official said Saudi Arabia carried out three airstrikes on Saturday against positions recently captured by Houthi forces in Taiz. The conflict intensified after a fragile truce between Yemen’s government and the Houthis collapsed in July. The renewed violence has raised concerns that Yemen could become another major front in the wider Middle East conflict. The Houthis have also announced a maritime blockade targeting Saudi Arabia and have stepped up attacks against ships and targets in the region, further increasing concerns over the safety of commercial shipping routes.