Yemeni army cautions Houthis over recent attacks raising escalation risk

The Yemeni army issued a formal warning to the Houthi movement on Tuesday, saying that a series of recent attacks on government‑controlled areas could trigger a broader escalation of the conflict. In a statement released by the Ministry of Defense, senior officials cautioned that continued strikes against military installations, infrastructure and civilian targets would compel the armed forces to intensify their response, potentially widening the fighting beyond the current front lines.

The warning follows a wave of missile and drone assaults attributed to the Houthis over the past week, which struck the capital Sana’a, the port city of Hodeidah and several southern provinces, resulting in dozens of injuries and damage to power and water facilities. The defense ministry cited intelligence indicating that the attacks were coordinated with external support and warned that any further violations of cease‑fire agreements would be met with decisive action. International observers have called for restraint, noting that heightened hostilities could jeopardize ongoing humanitarian aid deliveries and undermine diplomatic efforts aimed at a political settlement. The army’s statement underscores the fragile security environment and the risk that renewed escalation poses for Yemen’s already precarious stability.