Thousands flee Houthi advance across Bab al-Mandab, reaching Djibouti refugee camp

What happened

The BBC Middle East correspondent Frank Gardner reports that thousands of Yemenis have fled recent fighting on Yemen’s west coast by crossing the Bab al-Mandab Strait to reach a refugee camp in Obock, Djibouti. Officials there are preparing for the arrival of up to 10,000 refugees over the last ten days.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. The UN International Organisation for Migration has said these refugees traveled on overcrowded boats, arriving with very limited food and water. The crossings were triggered by an offensive launched by the Iran-backed Houthi movement aimed at seizing a strategically important island and the port of Mokha.

This development occurs amid broader concerns about the ongoing conflict dynamics in Yemen’s western front, where control over coastal and island locations is critical for access to Red Sea shipping routes. The humanitarian situation appears increasingly precarious as fighting intensifies, prompting large-scale displacement by sea.

Known from the source

• Thousands of people have fled fighting on Yemen's west coast by boat across Bab al-Mandab Strait to Djibouti in the last ten days.
• Djibouti officials are preparing for up to 10,000 refugees arriving in Obock camp.
• The UN International Organisation for Migration reported refugees arrived on overcrowded boats with limited food and water.
• The flight was sparked by an offensive by the Iran-backed Houthi movement targeting a key island and the port of Mokha.

What remains unclear

The source does not specify which actors are conducting the strikes or provide casualty figures. Responsibility for the offensive is attributed to the Houthis, described as Iran-backed, but no independent confirmation of military progress or impact is supplied in the source context.

Further editorial checks are needed to verify the number of refugees arriving, confirm the details and current status of the Houthi offensive, and ensure clarity on the humanitarian conditions reported. Casualty figures and responsible parties for recent fighting should be updated only after confirmation.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Number of refugees actually reached and currently held at the Djibouti camp. Verification of the Houthi offensive details, including territorial gains or losses around the key island and Mokha port. Current humanitarian conditions for those displaced, including access to food, water, and medical care.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: BBC Middle East Yemen. Open the source.