Renewed Yemen hostilities spark fears of return to all-out war

Yemenis are living in fear after renewed fighting between Houthi rebels and the Saudi-backed government shattered a 2022 truce that had brought relative calm. Last month, the Houthis ended the truce and ramped up attacks, including a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia and strikes on government-held areas. The government says it retaliated after deadly attacks on military camps in Marib province and the Mokha port, which also hit residential areas housing displaced people.

The Houthis earlier this month launched their deadliest attacks in years, killing 58 government troops, mainly in oil-rich Marib province, according to a military source. Two civilians were also killed in Houthi shelling on residential areas and displacement camps. Marib hosts 60 percent of all internally displaced people in Yemen, according to the International Organization for Migration. Residents like Anwar, a father of two who fled to Mokha, told AFP they now live in constant panic, with explosions reviving memories of displacement and violence.

The escalation follows a period of relative calm after the truce. The Houthis have also welcomed an Iranian plane to Sanaa, escalating tensions further. Displaced people like Ali Munif, who lives in a camp near Marib, worry about where they can flee if full-scale war returns. The conflict has already killed tens of thousands and driven millions to the brink of famine. There is no clear next step toward de-escalation.