Reports from Sanaa, Yemen, indicate that the Houthi forces have been mobilizing heavily in areas under their control over the past few days, raising the real possibility of a full-scale war resumption after four years of relative peace.
On Wednesday, the Houthis claimed responsibility for missile and drone attacks on two Saudi vessels in the Red Sea, stating that the strikes were a response to the blockade of the kingdom's ports.
Simultaneously, clashes erupted between Houthi fighters and Yemeni government-affiliated forces on a front line in the southwestern governorate of Dhale, resulting in more than 30 casualties on both sides.
Analysts suggest that the Houthis are acting with confidence, having withstood attacks from the Saudi-led coalition, the US, the UK, and Israel over the past decade while retaining control over populous northwestern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa.
However, experts warn that the strategic environment has changed significantly. Yemeni government forces are now more cohesive, and Saudi Arabia has become the main regional actor, potentially making a renewed war more difficult for the Houthis.
Ahmed Nagi, a senior Yemen analyst at the International Crisis Group, noted that the Presidential Leadership Council is less divided and decision-making more coordinated than earlier this year, strengthening the anti-Houthi camp.
Marwan Ali Noman, a senior fellow at the Washington Center for Yemeni Studies, highlighted the emergence of an anti-Houthi tribal alliance in al-Jawf province as a major concern for the rebels.
Despite these developments, the Houthis retain strong military capabilities, particularly in missiles and drones. However, the withdrawal of the UAE from Yemen and growing international pressure may limit their options.
US President Donald Trump warned of "major military punishment" for both the Houthis and Iran, which he accused of being the group's proxy. The Houthis, for their part, are betting that Saudi Arabia and other regional states will seek a quick deal rather than endure a prolonged conflict.
Source: www.aljazeera.com