When the war between America and Iran started on February 28, it was believed that Iran’s ally Houthi rebels could also jump into it. After about five months, the same apprehension seems to be proving true. Over the past week, the Houthis have launched several missile and drone attacks on ships in Saudi Arabia and the Red Sea. In response, the Saudi-led military coalition has also launched air strikes on Houthi positions. This means that the war in Yemen, which was somehow postponed for almost four years, is on the verge of breaking out again. The Houthis have announced a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia, while attacks from both sides are increasing. This has increased the risk of starting a new war in the Middle East. The latest dispute between the Houthis and the Saudis began on July 13. Actually, some Houthi leaders were returning from Iran to Yemen after attending the last journey of Ali Khamenei. But Yemen’s Saudi-backed government did not allow this plane to land at Sana’a airport. The Yemen government said that Houthi officials should return only by Yemen’s national airline. They will not be allowed to board Iranian airlines. The Houthis remained adamant on landing the Iranian aircraft directly in Sanaa. After this, government-backed forces bombed the runway of Sana’a airport, so that Iranian aircraft could not land there. As a result, the plane carrying Houthi leaders could not land at Sana’a airport. The plane changed its route and landed at Hodeidah Airport, which is under the control of Houthis. After this incident, the Houthis announced a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia. Initially, the Houthi rebels stayed away from the Iran war. In February, when America and Israel started a military campaign against Iran, the Houthi rebels were seen avoiding directly entering the fight. But his stance changed after the ceasefire between America and Iran broke. Many experts believe that Iran pressured the Houthis to play an active role in the war. However, he says that not only Iran but also the Houthis benefit from this. They want to use this opportunity to increase their political hold and power in Yemen. The war between Yemen and Saudi had stopped for 4 years. After the ceasefire in 2022, the fighting between Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia in Yemen had almost stopped. However, this did not mean that the dispute between the two parties was over. Negotiations on a permanent peace agreement also began under the mediation of the United Nations, but no result was achieved. Tension remained, but both sides tried to avoid a major war. Now after the US-Iran war, the situation has changed rapidly. In the last few weeks, the conflict between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia has increased again and the four-year-old ceasefire is on the verge of breaking. Saudi Arabia does not want war with Houthis. Saudi Arabia does not want another war with Houthis at this time. The reason for this is the previous conflict, which lasted for almost a decade. Saudi Arabia spent billions of dollars in this fight, but it did not achieve any decisive success. On the contrary, its international image was damaged and millions of Yemenis lost their lives due to war, hunger and disease. On the other hand, the Houthis feel that they can get their conditions met by increasing pressure on Saudi Arabia. According to officials, they want a greater share in Yemen’s oil earnings and a bigger role in the country’s politics. Yemen affairs expert Faria al-Muslimi says, for the Houthis there is only one answer to every problem – war. While Saudi Arabia tries to solve every problem with money, the Houthis respond with weapons. Houthi rebels strengthened with Iran’s help The Houthis were once a small group of Shia rebels active in Yemen’s northern mountainous regions. Their slogan was- “Death to America and Israel.” In 2011, the wave of Arab Spring that started from Tunisia also reached Yemen. At that time President Ali Abdullah Saleh had been in power for about 33 years. Due to the protest of the youth his throne was snatched away. Abdrabbhu Mansour Hadi became president in February 2012. But his government was weak. Houthi rebels took advantage of this and captured the capital Sanaa in September 2014 and ousted the internationally recognized government. The situation worsened so much that in 2015, President Hadi had to leave the country and take refuge in Saudi Arabia. Saudi started war against Houthi in 2015. After Hadi left the post, no single government has control over Yemen. Due to this, neighboring Saudi Arabia felt threatened because the Houthis were being supported by Iran. In such a situation, in 2015, Saudi formed a military alliance with eight Arab countries and started a war against the Houthis. The purpose of this alliance was to bring the internationally recognized government of President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi back to power. After nearly eight years of fighting, Saudi Arabia understood that it was not possible to defeat the Houthis with military force alone. After this he adopted the path of negotiations and started direct contact with Houthi leaders. Today the Houthis control large parts of northern Yemen. Southern Yemen is under the control of an internationally recognized government, but is largely dependent on Saudi Arabia for economic and military help. Gaza war spoils peace deal After the ceasefire comes into force in 2022, for the first time it seems that permanent peace can return to Yemen. Negotiations on an agreement between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis were progressing under the mediation of the United Nations. Both sides were working on a formula that could end the years-old war. The biggest controversy was regarding Yemen’s oil earnings and salaries of government employees. Despite this, both sides had come very close to the agreement. But the whole picture changed as soon as the Gaza war started in October 2023. The Houthis threw themselves into support of Hamas and began attacking ships passing through the Red Sea. In response, America and its allies launched air strikes on Houthi positions. After this, peace talks gradually went on the back burner. Houthis accuse Saudi of not fulfilling promises The Houthis did not directly attack Saudi Arabia during the Gaza war. But they started targeting ships passing through the Red Sea. This affected the maritime trade of many countries of the world. After this, after becoming President in 2025, Donald Trump declared the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization and started large-scale air strikes against them. Faria al-Muslimi, an expert on Yemen affairs, says that this decision worsened the already poor economy of the areas occupied by Houthis. Due to this, resentment also started increasing among the people living there. Speaking to The New York Times, Houthi leader Mohammed al-Bukaiti blamed Saudi Arabia for the current tension. They allege that Saudi Arabia did not fulfill the promises made during peace talks. In particular, the stalled salaries of government employees in Houthi controlled areas were not restored. However, Saudi Arabia has denied these allegations. Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed al-Jaber said his country wants to reduce tensions and supports lasting peace in Yemen. He alleged that the Houthis are continuously choosing the path of violence and are working in the interests of external forces, due to which the people of Yemen are suffering the loss.
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