Why a new war in Yemen could be different for the Houthis

Key Points:

• Yemen’s Houthi forces have recently mobilized and launched missile and drone attacks on two Saudi ships in the Red Sea, signaling a possible resumption of all-out war after four years of relative calm.
• Clashes between Houthis and Yemeni government-affiliated forces in Dhale province resulted in over 30 casualties, marking a shift from Houthi rhetoric to active military engagement.
• The Yemeni government has become more unified and coordinated, with stronger regional support from Saudi Arabia, improving its position against the Houthis compared to earlier years of the conflict.
• An emerging anti-Houthi tribal alliance in northern Yemen’s al-Jawf province and growing international concern over Red Sea security could bolster government forces and complicate Houthi military ambitions.
• Despite recent gains by government forces, the Houthis maintain significant military capabilities, including missiles, drones, and experienced fighters, making a decisive shift in the conflict’s balance uncertain.