Tokyo:Japan announced it will provide $10 million in emergency aid to Yemen and Djibouti, citing heightened tensions with the Houthi group.

According to Anadolu Agency, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi emphasized the importance of peace and stability in the Middle East, particularly around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which is critical for global energy security. He noted the escalation of violent military actions by the Houthis in Yemen since July, contributing to a deteriorating humanitarian situation.

The aid, primarily directed towards Yemen, comes in response to the conflict that has persisted since the Houthis took control of Sanaa and other regions in September 2014. This led to a Saudi-led coalition's intervention in March 2015, supporting Yemen's internationally recognized government.

Hostilities between Yemeni government forces and the Houthis, which had subsided following a UN-mediated truce in April 2022, resumed in July. Fighting intensified in September as the Houthis captured strategic locations in Al-Hudaydah and Taiz, including Mokha and Mayyun Island.

On Monday, Rashad al-Alimi, Chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, announced the 'Dawn of Yemen' operation, aiming to reclaim state institutions, recapture Sanaa, and end Houthi control.