Friday's missile and drone strikes on displacement camps and residential areas in Marib have shattered years of relative calm, killing two people and wounding 14, according to Yemen's state news agency SABA. The attacks, claimed by the Houthis, were quickly followed by a Yemeni army response against Houthi positions on multiple fronts, with the military vowing further action if its units are targeted again. This exchange marks a dangerous shift in a conflict that had largely subsided since a 2022 truce, raising fears of a return to devastating nationwide warfare. Main Developments Friday's assault targeted the Sahn al-Jinn camp in Marib, where the Houthis said they struck Saudi-backed forces, depots, vehicles, and military equipment. The Yemeni army confirmed it responded against Houthi forces along contact lines but did not provide details on the timing or operations. Reuters could not independently verify claims from either side. The violence follows an even deadlier day: at least 30 Yemeni government troops were killed in strikes on military camps in Marib and Hadramawt provinces on Thursday, according to government sources. The Houthis claimed responsibility for those attacks as well, saying they targeted Saudi military deployments after detecting what they described as a large Saudi military buildup. Read also: Typhoon Dolphin's double strike: Okinawa hit, China's coast on alert These incidents come amid heightened regional tensions, with a senior Saudi official warning on Thursday of imminent coordinated attacks from Houthis and Iraqi militias under Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps supervision. Iran and its allies have not responded to that claim. Background The Houthis seized Yemen's capital, Sanaa, in 2014, prompting Saudi Arabia to lead a military coalition backing the internationally recognized government starting in 2015. The ensuing war has devastated Yemen, creating one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. A U.N.-brokered truce in April 2022 halted offensive operations and sharply reduced fighting. The truce was extended twice before formally expiring in October 2022, but large-scale hostilities did not immediately resume, ushering in a period of relative calm. That calm now appears to be unraveling. Last month, the Houthis declared a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea, citing an alleged Saudi siege of Yemen—a claim Riyadh denies. This latest escalation also includes renewed attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Why It Matters U.N. Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg warned Friday that the attacks in Marib and Hadramawt, combined with renewed shipping attacks, leave Yemen at its greatest risk of renewed large-scale conflict since the 2022 truce. He urged all sides to exercise maximum restraint and engage in U.N.-led negotiations, cautioning that the violence could draw Yemen deeper into a wider regional confrontation. The U.N. Security Council echoed these concerns, saying recent actions threaten regional security and navigational rights, risk further escalation, and undermine peace efforts. The council urged the Houthis to refrain from escalation and encouraged dialogue channels to reduce tensions. With the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran expanding across the region, Yemen's conflict risks becoming a front in a broader proxy war, potentially drawing in Saudi Arabia and other regional powers. What's Next The Yemeni army has pledged to respond to any further targeting with what it calls necessary military measures, leaving open the possibility of continued exchanges. The Houthis have shown no sign of backing down, and their claimed naval blockade suggests they may escalate further. Diplomatic efforts face an uphill battle, with the U.N. pressing for negotiations while both sides appear entrenched. The coming days will reveal whether Friday's exchange remains an isolated spike or ignites a broader conflagration that could engulf the region.