**Title: Yemen’s Government Reports Houthi Strikes on Residential Areas in Marib**
**Date: August 15, 2026**
Yemen's government has reported a series of Houthi missile and drone strikes targeting the city of Marib, which is under government control. The attacks, which occurred over the weekend, have raised significant concerns about the safety of civilians and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.
According to local authorities, the Houthi forces launched four ballistic missiles and four drones on Saturday, resulting in multiple injuries and damage to residential neighborhoods, homes, and vehicles. The Marib provincial authority described the strikes as part of an "ongoing assault that threatens the lives of civilians, displaced persons’ camps, and residential neighborhoods." This escalation comes during a period of heightened hostilities in Yemen, which has been embroiled in conflict for several years.
Marib is currently home to a large population of internally displaced persons (IDPs), with over two million individuals residing there as part of the approximately five million Yemenis displaced due to the ongoing war. The city has become a critical refuge for those fleeing violence in other parts of the country.
In addition to the initial strikes, reports indicate that a fifth ballistic missile was launched later that day, injuring one individual. A sixth missile was reportedly fired overnight, further escalating the situation. Video footage verified by Al Jazeera showed the extensive damage caused by the strikes, highlighting the impact on the civilian population.
Yemen's Ministry of Information condemned the continued targeting of densely populated areas in Marib, labeling it a dangerous escalation that exacerbates the suffering of the civilian population. The ministry's statements were shared on social media platform X, emphasizing the urgent need for international attention and intervention.
The attacks on Marib coincided with clashes in other regions of Yemen. Yemeni government forces claimed that drone strikes killed three Houthi fighters, including field commanders, during confrontations along the Maqbanah front, located west of Taiz. Additionally, a separate strike reportedly destroyed a Houthi military vehicle in Jabal al-Zuhayb, resulting in further casualties among Houthi forces.
The recent escalation of violence marks a significant shift in the conflict, which had seen a relative decrease in hostilities since the UN-brokered truce in April 2022. The situation intensified in early August when Houthi missile and drone attacks on military camps in Marib and Hadramout resulted in the deaths of at least 30 government soldiers, marking one of the deadliest incidents in recent years.
In the days following those attacks, Houthi missiles struck civilian areas in Marib, killing at least two civilians and injuring 14 others. Further strikes in the port city of al-Makha (Mocha) resulted in the deaths of seven individuals, underscoring the widespread impact of the ongoing conflict on the civilian population.
The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, control significant portions of northern Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa. The ongoing hostilities have drawn international concern, with the United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, warning the UN Security Council that the country is facing its highest risk of returning to full-scale war since the truce was established. The recent violence threatens to unravel the fragile peace that has existed for over four years.
As the situation continues to evolve, the humanitarian implications remain dire, with millions of Yemenis in need of assistance. The international community is urged to respond to the escalating crisis and work towards a renewed commitment to peace and stability in Yemen.