Why is there fighting in Yemen?

Yemen has been engulfed in fighting between Iran-backed Huthi rebels and a Saudi-backed, internationally recognized central government since 2014. Recently, the Huthis claimed heavy strikes on government military camps in eastern provinces, resulting in the deaths of 30 troops. The Huthis declared a "large scale" operation using ballistic missiles and drones, citing Saudi military buildups in areas under their control.

This latest escalation marks a spike in hostilities between the two sides. The civil war began in 2014 when the Huthis stormed the north and took control of the capital, Sana'a, leading to a Saudi intervention the following year. The Huthis have received weapons and missile technology from Iran, evolving into a Tehran-backed player.

A shaky truce was agreed upon in 2022, but rivalries between Yemeni factions have reignited violence, with Iran expanding its leverage on the southern flank of the Arabian Peninsula. The UN warns of catastrophic levels of food insecurity in Yemen, compounded by years of internal divisions, mass displacement, political instability, and hunger.