The Forgotten Arena Returns to Frighten the Middle East: The Civil War in Yemen Escalates

The Yemeni arena is back at the center of the regional agenda: exchanges of blows between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, the closure of Bab el-Mandeb, and the recapture of the south. Researcher Inbal Nissim-Lubaton explains how a small tribal rebellion reignited the fire, why the Saudis are trapped, and why the threat to Eilat is closer than ever.

The Yemeni arena is back at the center of the regional agenda, with exchanges of blows between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, the closure of the Bab el-Mandeb strait, and the recapture of the south. Researcher Inbal Nissim-Lubaton, from the Forum for Regional Thought, explains in an interview with 'Davar' how a small tribal rebellion reignited the fire. According to her, the 'Southern Transitional Council' (STC), with UAE support, launched an offensive and took over areas in the south, including Hadramawt and Aden. In response, Saudi Arabia attacked from the air and forced the Emiratis to withdraw, and the recognized Yemeni government recaptured the territories. In July, the Houthis carried out a surprise attack on Yemeni soldiers, killing 16 soldiers, the deadliest event since the 2022 ceasefire. Nissim-Lubaton notes that the Houthis closed the Bab el-Mandeb strait and attacked a Saudi port, as part of the 'campaign to break the siege.' Saudi Arabia is caught between Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb, and the only remaining shipping route is through the Suez Canal. As for Israel, the Houthis maintain a 'low flame' but are ready to launch missiles, and the threat to Eilat is closer than ever.