Intense fighting has broken out between the Saudi-backed government of Yemen, and the pro-Iran Houthi Ansarallah group that currently holds the capital Sanaa and much of the north.

While the hostilities will add to the miseries of the Yemeni people, the conflict is tied to the US-Iran war as well. Questions have also been raised about the involvement of Saudi Arabia’s allies, including Pakistan, as the Houthis have struck positions in the kingdom. The Yemeni front was largely quiet since the 2022 Saudi-Houthi ceasefire took effect.

But over the past few weeks, there has been open war between the government and Ansarallah. In fact, the Houthis have captured the strategically important city of Mocha as well as key islands off the coast, leaving them largely in control of who gets to pass through the Bab al-Mandeb strait. The Houthis say maritime passage is open to all except Saudi vessels.

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