Families are fleeing western Yemen as Houthi forces and Saudi backed fighters battle for control of strategically important territory near the Red Sea.

Some displaced Yemenis have crossed the Bab el Mandeb Strait by boat to reach Djibouti, adding another dangerous journey to a conflict that has already forced millions of people from their homes.

The latest fighting follows a Houthi advance that secured the port city of Mokha and several Red Sea islands. Control of those locations could strengthen the group’s ability to observe or threaten vessels moving through the surrounding waterways.

Approximately 12 per cent of global trade normally passes through the Bab el Mandeb, according to reporting cited by the Associated Press. The narrow passage connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and forms part of the shipping route leading to the Suez Canal.

Any sustained disruption can force vessels to travel around southern Africa, adding time, fuel consumption and expense to international deliveries.

Military sources told Reuters that Houthi fighters were attempting to capture the Kahboub Mountains in the provinces of Taiz and Lahij.

The highlands separate parts of the Red Sea coast from government controlled areas in southern Yemen. Their capture could place additional pressure on forces opposing the Houthis.

The renewed fighting has also affected neighbouring Saudi Arabia. Houthi attacks have reportedly targeted Saudi linked vessels, cities and oil facilities.

Explosions and smoke were reported near Riyadh airport during one recent attack. The full extent of any damage was not immediately established.

Saudi Arabia previously led a military coalition against the Houthis after the group seized Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in 2014 and forced the internationally recognised government into exile.

Years of warfare produced a humanitarian crisis, including hunger, disease, destroyed infrastructure and mass displacement.

The conflict is connected to wider tensions involving Iran, the United States and their respective regional partners. The Houthis are supported by Iran, although the group makes its own political and military decisions.

US President Donald Trump reportedly considered new strikes against Houthi targets before deciding not to proceed at that time.

For civilians, those strategic calculations offer little immediate protection. People escaping by sea face overcrowded vessels, unpredictable weather and the possibility that borders or transport routes may close.

Aid agencies must also contend with damaged roads, insecure ports and restrictions on moving supplies.

The latest displacement is a reminder that Yemen’s war is not merely a contest over territory. It is a continuing emergency for families who have already spent years living with violence and instability.