Two civilians, including a mother and her child, were reportedly killed in Saudi airstrikes in Yemen’s northwestern Al-Jawf province, according to Houthi authorities. The claims came as fighting between Houthi forces and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces intensified across several parts of the country.
Houthi-run authorities said the strikes hit the Al-Batin area of Al-Hazm in Al-Jawf. They reported that the woman’s husband and two other children were also injured. The casualty claims could not be independently verified.
The Houthis also alleged that a separate Saudi strike targeted a prison in Al-Hazm, killing nine detainees. Houthi official Abdelkader al-Murtada said the victims had been captured during recent fighting. Earlier reports had also documented casualties after an airstrike on a prison in the same area, highlighting the continuing danger to people held in conflict zones.
The latest violence comes amid a major escalation in Yemen. Fighting has spread across several provinces, including Taiz, Al-Jawf, Marib and Saada. Military sources cited by AFP reported that more than 150 people had been killed in fighting, airstrikes and artillery exchanges over the previous two days, although casualty figures from the warring sides differ.
The renewed conflict has also triggered a growing humanitarian crisis. The United Nations refugee agency said intensified fighting has already displaced more than 130,000 people inside Yemen during September. UNHCR warned that another large wave of displacement could follow if the fighting continues.
Thousands of Yemenis have also attempted to leave the country by sea. More than 3,000 people have crossed the Red Sea to Djibouti in recent weeks, many travelling in difficult conditions. UN agencies have warned that the number could rise significantly as fighting continues and sea conditions become more favourable for crossings.
Djibouti is preparing for a possible increase in arrivals, with UN agencies warning that local humanitarian services could come under further pressure. The United Nations has said additional resources are urgently required to provide shelter, food, water, healthcare and protection to displaced families.
The escalation comes after Houthi forces expanded their military activity along Yemen’s Red Sea coast and intensified attacks on Saudi territory. Saudi Arabia and forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognised government have responded with airstrikes against Houthi positions.
With violence spreading and displacement rising, humanitarian agencies are increasingly concerned that Yemen could face another major wave of civilian suffering as the conflict continues.
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