Yemen clashes intensify as Houthi attacks spread, oil spill hits Iran coast
Fresh clashes between Houthi rebels and Yemeni forces raise civil war fears, as an oil spill off Iran's coast adds to regional tensions.
Fighting between Iran-backed Houthi rebels and Yemeni government forces escalated overnight Thursday, with clashes reported in the mountainous province of Taiz. Military officials said at least one soldier was killed and another critically wounded in the exchange. The violence is part of a broader surge in Houthi attacks on government-held areas across Yemen, which have killed dozens of troops in recent days.
In the central province of Marib, tribal leaders reported that army artillery targeted Houthi movements overnight. The rebels have been using drones and missiles against military positions and warehouses, while also striking oil facilities and shipping in the Red Sea linked to Saudi Arabia, a key supporter of the Yemeni government.
The renewed fighting has stoked fears that Yemen's civil war could reignite, potentially opening a new front in the wider Middle East conflict. With the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed to shipping due to Iranian actions, attention has turned to the Bab el-Mandeb strait at Yemen's southern tip, a vital alternative route for Saudi oil exports.
A recent Houthi attack on a commercial vessel in the Bab el-Mandeb killed six people, including three Pakistanis. Indonesia's Foreign Ministry confirmed one of its nationals is missing and two others were wounded in the incident.
Meanwhile, Iran is working to contain an oil spill off Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. The cause of the spill has not been officially confirmed, but satellite imagery suggests it may have originated from an attack on a bulk carrier off Oman. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei has called for compensation, arguing that those who benefit from commercial shipping in the strait are legally and morally obligated to address the environmental damage.
Separately, an oil spill from a grounded tanker off Oman's southern coast continues to spread, threatening a marine protected area near Qabiliyah Island. No party has claimed responsibility for that incident.