As fighting intensifies between the Iran-backed Houthi rebels and Yemeni government forces over the southern highlands of Yemen, casualties are surging again and the number of displaced people continues to grow.

The Houthi rebels, who launched their first-ever attack on the Saudi capital of Riyadh over the weekend, are posing renewed threats to southern Saudi Arabia as well.

According to AFP and other agencies on the 22nd (local time), clashes over the past two days between the Houthi rebels and Yemeni government forces backed by the Saudi-led coalition in major battlegrounds across Yemen left at least 154 people dead.

A military source from the Houthi rebels stated that 118 people were killed by airstrikes and shelling from the Saudi coalition in areas such as Taiz, Al-Jawf, Marib, and Saada.

Government forces also reported that 36 of their personnel were killed in action.

The mounting casualties on both sides appear to stem from the Houthi rebels stepping up their offensive against the government in recent times to retake key strongholds in Yemen's southern highlands.

As armed clashes become fiercer, the humanitarian crisis is also deepening.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) compiled data on this day showing that the number of displaced people driven by security instability across seven provinces in Yemen is nearing 130,000.

The IOM explained, "The number of displaced people continues to rise, and about 3,100 have crossed the Red Sea to evacuate to Djibouti."

It is reported that these individuals are suffering from shortages of supplies even after fleeing to safe zones.

Having intensified their offensive in the southwestern region early this month, the Houthi rebels have continued missile and drone attacks targeting the Red Sea coast and areas near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a major strategic chokepoint, alongside ground troop advances.

The rebels are also continuing attacks across the border into the Saudi mainland.

The Saudi Civil Defense issued a danger alert on this day for the southern province of Najran, which borders Yemen, urging residents to stay indoors and avoid open areas.

This is the first danger alert issued since the Houthi rebels launched an attack targeting Riyadh over the weekend.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)