Houthi strikes threaten to pull Yemen back into full-scale war

Yemen faces the risk of reverting to all-out war following a series of Houthi attacks on oil tankers and other vessels in the Red Sea. The attacks come after four years of relative peace between the Houthi militia, backed by Iran, and Yemen's internationally recognized government, supported by Saudi Arabia. The latest strikes follow assaults on Saudi oil infrastructure and ships in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial waterway connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.

Houthi spokesman Hisham Al-Omeisy stated that the group aims to weaken the government's control over the Red Sea coastal areas and gain full control of the Al-Hudeydah governorate to pressure global maritime trade. Saudi Arabia has continued to support the Yemeni government financially and militarily, despite maintaining some blockades in Houthi-controlled areas.

Analysts believe the Houthis hope to secure additional concessions from Saudi Arabia, using the ongoing Middle East conflict to distract from their failure to deliver on promises such as government reform, salary payments, and improved livelihoods. The Houthis' attacks are also strategically timed to distract from their shortcomings.

Saudi Arabia, concerned about regional stability and its economic transformation under Vision 2030, has formed a multinational Maritime Defense Alliance to address the threats posed by Houthi strikes. However, experts doubt these efforts will prevent a renewed conflict in Yemen, as the humanitarian crisis continues to worsen, with over half the population requiring humanitarian assistance.