Houthis Escalate Yemen Conflict with Offensives Against Government and Saudi Arabia

Yemen is experiencing a renewed surge in large-scale violence after 12 years of war and a general combat pause since 2022. The escalation stems from two significant offensives launched by Houthi rebels: one targeting the troops of Yemen's internationally recognized government and another directed at Saudi Arabia.

The Iran-backed Houthi insurgents have proven their military strength since the war began in 2014, having seized the capital, Sanaa, and large swathes of the northwest, where they function as a de facto government. The United Nations recognizes them as "de facto authorities" in these controlled areas. The rebels have not only weathered Saudi Arabia's military campaign, which began in 2015 in support of the government, but have also grown stronger, developing domestic arms manufacturing capabilities and recruiting tens of thousands of fighters.

Recent events have intensified tensions. On July 13, the Yemeni army bombed Sanaa International Airport to prevent an Iranian plane's landing, fearing it would deliver weapons and advisors from Iran's Revolutionary Guard to support the Houthis. The rebels, however, accused Saudi Arabia of the attack and retaliated with missiles and drones against the kingdom. Saudi Arabia, in turn, conducted military operations against rebel positions in Yemen, despite stating it did not seek direct confrontation.

Further escalating the situation, the Houthis imposed a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea, a critical route for oil exports. This has led Riyadh to establish the Multinational Maritime Security Alliance, with approximately 14 countries expressing interest in joining. Concurrently, the Houthis are pressing their offensive against government troops on previously frozen fronts, focusing on resource-rich provinces and the Red Sea coast to expand their territorial control.