Conflict in Yemen has escalated sharply this week, with Iran-backed Houthi forces capturing strategic locations along Yemen’s western coast and launching missile and drone strikes against Saudi Arabia. The Houthis seized the port city of Mokha on Thursday and subsequently took control of the town of Dhubab and the island of Perim, according to Yemeni government sources cited by Reuters.
These areas lie near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Control over this narrow passage is critical for regional oil exports, especially after Iran’s blockade of the nearby Strait of Hormuz increased Bab el-Mandeb’s geopolitical importance. The Houthis’ alignment with Iran potentially strengthens Tehran’s leverage in its ongoing conflict with the United States by influencing shipping routes through this strategic waterway.
Renewed Hostilities and Saudi Response
The Yemeni government’s National Resistance Forces announced defensive reorganization efforts in Mokha alongside other anti-Houthi factions. The conflict has spilled into Saudi territory, a key U.S. ally and regional counterbalance to Iran. The Houthis launched multiple ballistic missiles and drone attacks targeting four Saudi cities this week, prompting retaliatory airstrikes from Saudi Arabia across several Yemeni provinces.
Farea Al-Muslimi, a Yemen researcher at Chatham House, described the situation as approaching a full-scale war, noting that despite the absence of that official designation, current hostilities reflect continuous conflict escalation.
Political Fragmentation and Military Dynamics
The current violence marks an end to a fragile calm following a 2022 UN-brokered truce. Since 2015, a Saudi-led coalition has supported Yemen’s internationally recognized government against the Houthi insurgency. While the Houthis control the capital Sanaa, large areas of northern Yemen, and now much of the western coast, the internationally recognized government remains based in Aden, with many officials operating from Saudi Arabia.
Further complexity arises from southern secessionist movements backed by the UAE that have contested parts of the south and east. Saudi Arabia’s stance has evolved since 2015: it now provides enhanced military and logistic support to government-aligned forces but appears reluctant to engage in a broader war aimed at outright Houthi defeat.
The Role of Pakistan and Regional Alliances
Pakistan joined Saudi Arabia and Turkey in signing the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, though this pact has not yet led to direct military involvement. Pakistani officials reportedly have no plans for immediate military response under this agreement but remain prepared to act if necessary.
Analysts suggest Pakistan is likely to maintain a mediator role rather than direct engagement, balancing its relations with Iran and its security commitments to Saudi Arabia through intelligence and advisory support rather than combat participation.
Humanitarian Impact
The renewed fighting has intensified Yemen’s humanitarian crisis. The World Health Organization reported nearly 200 deaths already, and the International Organization for Migration noted that approximately 18,500 people have been displaced in recent clashes. Many of these individuals have been forced to flee multiple times due to recurring violence.
The UN envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, highlighted the grim reality of resurgent war in the country, where close to two-thirds of the population remains in need of aid. Human rights groups warn that civilian casualties may mount as the conflict deepens, recalling heavy losses during previous years of fighting between the Saudi-led coalition and Houthi forces.
