Yemen’s Red Sea Offensive Deepens the Humanitarian and Shipping Crisis

2026, September 24

Yemen / Saudi Arabia / Djibouti

The conflict in Yemen continues to widen along the Red Sea coast, with Houthi forces fighting Saudi-backed troops and drawing further Saudi airstrikes. The renewed escalation has displaced at least 112,000 people inside Yemen, while nearly 3,000 have reportedly crossed by sea to Djibouti, placing additional pressure on already limited humanitarian services.

The fighting also threatens one of the world’s most important maritime corridors. The Bab el-Mandeb connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, and continued attacks or territorial gains could affect commercial shipping, insurance costs and energy supplies across Europe, Asia and the Middle East.