Houthi advance in Yemen sparks renewed fighting and attacks on Saudi Arabia

Yemen’s civil war has flared up again in recent months, with the Iran-backed Houthi movement fighting forces supporting the government.

The Houthis control much of north-western Yemen and seized part of the Red Sea coast near the Bab al-Mandab Strait in September.

The coastal area sits beside a key global shipping route, at the southern entrance to the Red Sea.

At the start of October, pro-government forces said a counter-offensive, backed by Saudi air strikes, had retaken territory overlooking the strait.

The Houthis then launched missiles and drones at Saudi targets, including military bases, energy facilities and airports.

At least 13 people were killed when a missile hit Riyadh’s international airport on 10 October, the deadliest attack in Saudi Arabia in more than a decade.

The fighting adds to a long-running war and humanitarian crisis that has reportedly killed more than 150,000 people and left over 22 million in need of aid.