Yemen Government Declares Readiness for Houthi Escalation After Red Sea Attacks
Yemen’s internationally recognised government has stated it is prepared for any escalation in the Yemen conflict with the Iran-backed Houthis following recent attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure and a declared maritime blockade.
Government Preparedness for Escalation
Yemen’s Foreign Minister-designate Afrah al-Zouba stated that the government was prepared for any escalations with the Houthis. [2] She made the comments during a briefing in the Saudi capital Riyadh, noting that Yemen’s government enjoys strong Saudi backing. [1] Al-Zouba said the government was ready either via peaceful means or the other way as the situation requires. [1] She emphasised that firing was taking place along the frontline but that neither side had yet mounted an offensive. [1] The internationally recognised government sees a return to full-scale war as more likely now than at any point since the 2022 truce. [1]
Houthi Strategy in the Red Sea
Yemeni Foreign Minister-designate Afrah al-Zouba stated that the Houthis aim to replicate Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz by disrupting shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea. [1] She said the Houthis want to copy the Iranian model and this will shut down two main straits, the gateways into the Gulf and Red Sea. [1] Al-Zouba added that the rebels were in harmony with Iranian escalation in the region and that they think they will gain control over the Red Sea. [2] The narrow waterway has been a critical artery for delivering vast quantities of Saudi crude to the international market after maritime traffic was largely choked off by fighting in the Strait of Hormuz. [2] The Red Sea has become a new front in the Iran war with the Houthis taking an escalatory approach against Saudi Arabia. [1]
Yemens Foreign Minister-designate Afrah al-Zouba speaks at a briefing in Riyadh. — Source: thenewarab
Recent Military Actions
The Houthis have fired missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia, declared a blockade on Saudi shipping, and claimed fresh drone strikes on Saudi oil facilities in response to alleged Saudi drone incursions. [1] The comments by al-Zouba came just hours after the Houthis said they launched fresh drone strikes targeting Saudi Arabian oil infrastructure. [2] Saudi Arabia has conducted airstrikes on Houthi military facilities, vowed to protect commercial shipping, and accused the Houthis of serving foreign agendas. [1] Last week the Houthis announced a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia and have claimed attacks targeting Saudi tankers and oil infrastructure in the kingdom. [2] Yemen’s Houthis announced deaths of 9 fighters amid escalating clashes with government forces though the report did not specify when or where they were killed. [4]
Context of the 2022 Truce
A truce was reached in 2022 but it has been pierced by the recent cross-border fire. [1] The latest flare-up between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis marks the first time in years the two sides have traded blows threatening a 2022 truce in the previous conflict that has held despite expiring. [2] War killed hundreds of thousands of people after the Houthis stormed the capital Sanaa in 2014 prompting Saudi Arabia to intervene at the head of an Arab coalition. [1] A Saudi-led military coalition had fought against the Houthi rebels in support of Yemen’s internationally recognised government after war broke out in the country in 2015. [2] The escalation has also threatened to bring back conflict to Yemen where war killed hundreds of thousands of people after the Houthis stormed the capital Sanaa in 2014. [1]
Yemens Foreign Minister-designate Afrah al-Zouba speaks at a briefing in Riyadh. — Source: france24
Regional Implications
Fears are growing that renewed fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi rebels in Yemen may further destabilise the Arabian peninsula and rattle the region’s precarious fault lines. [2] The Red Sea has become a new front in the Iran war with the Houthis taking an escalatory approach against Saudi Arabia by firing missiles and drones at the kingdom and declaring a blockade on Saudi shipping. [1] Saudi officials Western diplomats and Yemeni officials see a return to full-scale war as more likely now than at any point since the 2022 truce. [1] Al-Zouba said the government was increasingly worried that the Tehran-backed rebels were copying Iranian manoeuvres in the Strait of Hormuz to gain control over the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. [2]
Daily Skirmishes Along the Frontline
Daily skirmishes are occurring between Houthi and government forces along a frontline spanning northwest Yemen from the Red Sea to the Saudi border though neither side has yet launched a full offensive. [1] Al-Zouba said the situation in Yemen was tense with Houthi forces skirmishing with government troops in several areas across the country daily. [2] The current flare-up threatens to unravel the 2022 truce and return Yemen to full-scale war which had already killed hundreds of thousands after the Houthis seized Sanaa in 2014 and prompted Saudi-led intervention in 2015. [1] Yemen’s internationally recognised government on Monday said it is ready for any escalation with Houthi rebels after the Iran-backed group launched attacks and a maritime blockade targeting Saudi Arabia. [2]
What to watch next: Officials will monitor whether the Houthis expand their declared blockade on Saudi shipping or whether Saudi Arabia increases airstrikes on Houthi military facilities while both sides continue daily skirmishes without launching a full offensive.
