Yemen’s Government Says Houthi Strikes Hit Residential Areas in Marib

The war in Yemen has long been shrouded in proxy politics, but recent escalation in Marib province is bringing devastating consequences into sharp focus. Over the weekend, four ballistic missiles and drones hit civilian neighborhoods, leaving a trail of destruction and casualties.

The Yemeni government’s swift response condemned the attacks as an “escalation” that threatens lives and increases suffering. This is no exaggeration – Marib hosts over two million internally displaced people, forced from their homes since the war began. The city is a ticking time bomb, where conflict consequences are felt by civilians with nowhere to go.

The Houthi strikes on Marib are part of a wider pattern of escalation that has gripped Yemen since early August. Missile and drone attacks on military camps in Marib and Hadramout killed at least 30 government soldiers in the deadliest single episode of the conflict in years. This was followed by further strikes, including one on the port city of al-Makha (Mocha) that killed seven people.

The international community has been slow to respond to Yemen’s crisis. The UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, warned the UN Security Council this week that the country faces its highest risk of returning to full-scale war since the truce brokered by the UN in April 2022. However, words are cheap; action is needed now.

The Houthis’ reliance on Iranian backing has turned Marib into a battleground, with residential areas used as targets for ballistic missiles and drones. This strategy aims to terrorize civilians and break the government’s will to fight – a tactic used before in Syria, Gaza, and other conflict zones worldwide.

The international community must examine its role in enabling this war. The arms trade, which fuels conflicts like Yemen’s, operates with little transparency or accountability. Western powers, including the UK and US, have long been accused of turning a blind eye to their involvement in Yemen’s proxy wars.

As Marib spirals out of control, one thing is clear: something must be done to stop this war from escalating further. The international community has a responsibility to act – not just to broker another truce or peace agreement, but to address the root causes of this conflict and hold those responsible accountable.

The road ahead will be long and difficult, but it’s one that must be taken. Yemen is on the brink of collapse, with millions displaced and thousands killed in a war with no end in sight. The people of Marib are paying the price for our complacency – it’s time to take action before it’s too late.

In recent weeks, we’ve seen a disturbing trend: the use of proxy forces to wage wars on behalf of great powers. This phenomenon has been used throughout history, from CIA covert operations in Nicaragua to Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps involvement in Syria. But it carries with it a terrible price – paid in blood and suffering by civilians caught in the crossfire.

The war in Yemen is just one example of this trend, but it’s particularly egregious. The Houthi attacks on Marib have left a trail of destruction and casualties, with residential neighborhoods hit repeatedly over the weekend. This is not just a humanitarian crisis – it’s also a stark reminder of the dangers of proxy wars.

The international community must take responsibility for its role in enabling these conflicts. We need to hold those responsible accountable for their actions and work towards a world where proxy forces are not used as tools of great power politics. It’s a tall order, but one that must be taken if we’re to prevent more wars like Yemen from happening in the future.

The people of Marib will not be forgotten; they are paying the price for our complacency, and they deserve better than to be caught in the crossfire of great power politics. It’s time for us to act – before it’s too late.