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Hostilities between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi rebels have intensified significantly following the collapse of a 2022 ceasefire agreement in July. This renewed phase of the decade-long conflict has already resulted in over 1,500 deaths, according to figures released by the World Health Organization (WHO). Both sides have engaged in an extensive exchange of missile and drone attacks, marking a sharp return to full-scale warfare that threatens regional security and international commerce.
The intensity of the conflict has grown rapidly, with Saudi Arabia reportedly conducting more than 3,000 airstrikes and missile launches since the latest escalation began. In response, Houthi rebels have targeted critical infrastructure within Saudi borders, including declaring the Riyadh airport a military target. These attacks have caused widespread disruption to international air travel, forcing the cancellation of hundreds of flights at major hubs in Riyadh and Jeddah. Saudi authorities have issued urgent warnings across several major cities while deploying interception systems to neutralize incoming Houthi projectiles.
The collapse of the ceasefire has undone months of relative calm in a war that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives over the past ten years. Beyond the immediate death toll in this recent surge, the humanitarian situation remains dire as military operations intensify on both sides of the border. While the Houthis claim significant strikes on their territory have resulted in numerous fatalities, the escalating aerial campaign indicates a transition back to the high-intensity combat seen in previous years of the civil war.