Escalating Conflict: Battles Between Yemeni Forces and Houthis Leave 48 Dead

The battle between the Yemeni government forces, supported by Saudi Arabia, and the Iran-backed Houthi fighter group is heating up. Most recently, 48 people have been killed within the last few hours.

According to AFP on Sunday (20/09/2026), Yemeni government military sources confirmed that 17 of their soldiers were killed. Meanwhile, 3ly 31 individuals from the Houthi side were also reported dead.

In recent months, fighting between the Houthis and the internationally recognised Yemeni government has become increasingly intense. This situation follows approximately four years of relative calm, during which the Houthis have increased efforts to strengthen their control over the country’s coastal regions.

The seizure of Mokha represents the Houthis’ greatest success since the United Nations-mediated ceasefire came into effect in 2022. Currently, the Houthi group controls Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, as well as much of the densely populated areas in the north and west of the country.

Meanwhile, the Yemeni government, based in Aden, receives strong support from Saudi Arabia. The civil war in Yemen is estimated to have killed more than 150,000 people and has left millions of citizens facing the risk of famine.