The Houthis once again fail to read the 'regional room'

The Houthis have once again failed to recognize the regional situation, according to recent developments in Yemen. On 24 August, the Iran-backed militia attacked a Saudi oil tanker near the port of Yanbu in the Red Sea. This came just days after the Houthi militia targeted areas controlled by the Saudi-backed Yemeni government, including the port city of Mokha.

Despite numerous attempts at peace talks and mediation efforts, the Houthis have yet to alter their course. The United Nations, Arab and foreign governments, including the United States, have all attempted to broker a resolution, but with limited success. The US has even designated the Houthi militia as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation and imposed sanctions on entities linked to them.

Israel has also launched airstrikes, claiming to have killed several Houthi leaders, though this claim is unverified. The US and UK have reportedly supplied weapons to the coalition, raising concerns about misuse. The Houthis seem to be positioning themselves in alignment with Iran's confrontation with the US and Israel, a move seen as risky and potentially dangerous.

The US and Israel's strikes have caused significant damage to Iranian and proxy groups like Hezbollah, while drone attacks on Houthi sites have increased. Despite this, the Houthis continue to operate in secrecy, with deteriorating living standards in their controlled areas and widespread frustration among the Yemeni population.

The UN has called for immediate cessation of actions that could reignite full-scale conflict, highlighting the world's most acute humanitarian crisis in Yemen, where over half the population requires assistance to survive.