Yemen conflict intensifies with Marib clashes and maritime control

Intensifying conflict in Yemen has led to significant casualties and a shift in the regional security landscape. In Marib, the Yemeni army reported that at least 80 Houthi fighters were killed during fierce clashes south of the city. Government forces, supported by drones and warplanes, reportedly repelled Houthi attacks aimed at seizing the energy-rich province, which hosts critical oil and gas fields and a large population of internally displaced persons.

Adding to the instability, the Houthis recently took control of the Bab Al-Mandeb strait, a vital maritime passage between the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa. This development follows the collapse of the 2022 truce between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis.

The escalating violence has direct implications for Yemeni refugees abroad. In the Netherlands, asylum seekers have expressed growing concern over their safety and future. Following a policy change in March 2024, Dutch authorities moved from granting general humanitarian protection to conducting individualized assessments. This shift, influenced by updated country reports and European Court of Justice rulings, has resulted in an 81 percent initial rejection rate for Yemeni asylum applications by the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).