Houthi Red Sea attacks threaten return of war in Yemen — DW
Yemen faces a return to full-scale conflict due to a new escalation between the Iran-backed Houthis and the country’s internationally recognized government, which is supported by Saudi Arabia. On Monday, the Houthis attacked a crude oil tanker in the Red Sea off the coast of Saudi Arabia. This was preceded by strikes on Saudi oil infrastructure and vessels in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Deutsche Welle English reports.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. It has become an alternative route for oil exports from Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf countries affected by Iran’s ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
In August, the Houthis also attacked areas controlled by the Yemeni government, including the port city of Mocha. In response, Yemen’s internationally recognized government struck Houthi infrastructure. The current military escalation has ended four years of relative calm between the sides.
Struggle for the coast
Yemeni analyst Hisham al-Omeisy told DW that Mocha is of strategic importance to the Houthis because it is located near the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. In his view, the group seeks to weaken the government’s control over the Red Sea coastal areas and establish full control over Al Hudaydah governorate, to which Mocha belongs.
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After the 2022 truce, Saudi Arabia continued to provide financial and military support to the Yemeni government and did not fully lift air and port blockades in Houthi-controlled areas. Al-Omeisy believes the Houthis are trying to secure additional concessions from Riyadh. In his assessment, the group is also using the broader war in the Middle East to divert attention from domestic pressure over promises of reforms, salary payments and improved living conditions.
Security measures and humanitarian crisis
Alice Gower, director for geopolitics and security at London-based consulting firm Azure Strategy, noted that Houthi attacks threaten shipping, raise insurance costs, deter investors and create risks for infrastructure important to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 program. In July, Saudi Arabia led the creation of a multinational Maritime Defense Alliance involving more than 14 countries, including the United States. In August, the kingdom also joined a defense pact with Pakistan and Turkey, the Mecca Agreement on Joint Defense. Analysts indicate that the effectiveness of these formats has yet to be proven.
According to the UN, Yemen continues to experience one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises after the 2014–2022 war, with more than half of the population requiring assistance. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called on all sides to immediately stop actions that could return the country to full-scale conflict. Human Rights Watch researcher Niku Jafarnia warned that a resumption of confrontation between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition could further worsen the population’s situation.
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