Yemen Conflict Spirals Out of Control Amid Ongoing Saudi Airstrikes
The ongoing conflict in Yemen has taken a deadly turn as Houthi rebels reported dozens of Saudi airstrikes on Wednesday, killing hundreds and wounding thousands. The attacks targeted several regions, including Taiz and Hodeida, where fierce clashes have been ongoing between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed government.
Mohammed Khudairi, one of nearly 20,000 people who fled the fighting, described the situation as a 'catastrophe.' 'We managed to leave, but others remain trapped there,' he said at a displacement camp near Khokha on the Red Sea coast.
The Houthis launched their major offensive last week to seize territory around the Bab al-Mandab strait, which is a key shipping route. The rebels are trying to tighten their grip on shipments, analysts say, as oil prices have returned to $100 a barrel due to the ongoing Middle East war.
The conflict has killed more than 500 people since the Houthis launched their offensive last week and over 73 were wounded in Houthi missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia. The fighting comes amidst the backdrop of the Middle East war, which erupted with US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February.