Conflict in Yemen has drastically intensified as internationally recognized government forces launch a major military offensive against the Houthi movement, an armed faction allegedly backed by Iran. Speaking before the United Nations Security Council, UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg stated that the country has effectively slid backward into full-scale war.

Government forces are aggressively attempting to retake the vital Bab al-Mandeb strait at the entrance to the Red Sea, which has served as an alternative maritime route amid disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. According to UN reports, dozens of civilians, including children, have been killed since August, while the International Organization for Migration notes that over 200,000 people have been displaced.

The Yemeni administration announced the initiation of Operation 'Dawn of Yemen', claiming thousands of precision strikes against Houthi-held territories. In retaliation, Houthi forces have reportedly targeted critical infrastructure inside Saudi Arabia, including a deadly strike on Riyadh's international airport that resulted in civilian casualties and flight suspensions.

Representatives of the US regime used a UN Security Council session to condemn the escalation, alleging that Tehran uses the Houthis as proxies to destabilize regional shipping. Analysts warn that the collapse of the 2022 ceasefire and the resumption of intense warfare risk plunging millions of Yemenis back into a catastrophic humanitarian crisis.

Source: www.aljazeera.com