Yemen fighting escalates as Saudi alerts and maritime security concerns rise

FIGHTING in Yemen intensified overnight as Saudi Arabia issued two rounds of emergency alerts for Riyadh and Al-Kharj, while tens of thousands of people rallied in Sanaa in support of the Houthis and against Saudi Arabia.

Aljazeera reported today that the escalation comes as the United Nations warns that more than 112,000 people have been displaced in Yemen over the past two weeks, with civilians facing what it described as “multiple concurrent health risks” amid the rising violence.

The European Union delegation to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman condemned Houthi attacks as “unacceptable”, saying they undermined the global economy.

The delegation said it had been in contact with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud over efforts to end the fighting in Yemen and restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

The escalation has also heightened concerns over maritime security around the Arabian Peninsula.

Rear Admiral Abdullah bin Salem al-Shehri, commander of the Multinational Maritime Defence Coalition (MMDC), said protecting international waterways was a collective responsibility after the coalition’s fourth planning meeting in Jeddah on Friday.

“Protection of the international waterways is an international responsibility,” he said.

The 14-country coalition, formed in July, is tasked with helping keep waterways including the Gulf of Aden, Bab al-Mandeb Strait and Red Sea open to international traffic.

“Today, we announce the accomplishment of the initial operation capability of the MMDC,” al-Shehri said, adding that “any threat to the international maritime security will be deterred”.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 into law, extending existing US sanctions on Iran.

The developments come as the humanitarian situation in Yemen deteriorates, with the UN warning of mounting health risks alongside displacement caused by the latest violence.

In Sanaa, large crowds took to the streets to demonstrate support for the Houthis and opposition to Saudi Arabia as fighting intensified in western Yemen. - September 19, 2026