More than 2,000 people have arrived in Djibouti after fleeing a sharp escalation in fighting between Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement and the Saudi-backed government, according to the International Organization for Migration.
The United Nations agency said the arrivals reached Djibouti this week as the Houthis expanded their control along Yemen’s Red Sea coast. The group captured the port city of Mocha on Thursday, further strengthening its position near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a major maritime route linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
“More than 2,000 people fleeing hostilities in Yemen have arrived on Djibouti’s shores,” the IOM said on X. The agency told AFP that the first arrivals reached the country on Thursday evening.
Djibouti’s Economy and Finance Minister Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh had estimated the number at about 1,400 people a day earlier.
The UN estimates that at least 76,000 people have been displaced by fighting in Yemen since July. The number has risen sharply during the past week as the Houthi offensive intensified.
Djibouti, which has a population of about one million, lies directly across the Bab al-Mandab Strait from Yemen. The country is also an important transit point for migrants seeking to reach the wealthier Gulf states.
The strategic location has attracted military bases operated by the United States, China, Japan, France and Italy, reflecting the importance of the waterway to international trade and security.
The latest developments come as tensions also rise around the Strait of Hormuz, another critical route for global energy shipments.
Iranian authorities said a merchant vessel was struck near Qeshm and Hengam islands on Sunday, killing one person and injuring three. Qeshm city governor Amir Teymouri said the vessel was hit at about 5am local time, although he did not identify the source of the strike.
Several explosions were reported overnight around Qeshm, Iran’s largest island.
The incident occurred ahead of a planned meeting between Iran and Gulf states in Oman to discuss the future of the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway has become a major flashpoint since the conflict between Iran and the United States began on February 28.
Maritime authorities said another vessel was reportedly struck by a projectile while travelling through the strait. The UKMTO said the extent of damage and the condition of the crew were initially unknown.
Concerns over shipping have intensified after Saudi Arabia temporarily closed its 1,200-kilometre East-West oil pipeline following a drone attack. The pipeline has carried between four million and five million barrels of oil a day while traffic through Hormuz has been disrupted.
The attacks have contributed to higher energy prices, with Brent crude rising above $100 a barrel during the past week.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also asked US President Donald Trump for military assistance against the Houthis, according to sources cited by Reuters. Washington has so far declined to intervene directly, although it has offered intelligence support.
Meanwhile, Iran has signalled that the Strait of Hormuz will not fully reopen unless its demands are met, including recognition of its control over the waterway. Gulf states are seeking assurances over safe passage as the wider conflict continues to threaten regional stability and global energy supplies.
