Yemen conflict escalates as Houthis, Saudi-led coalition clash

September 9, 2026 at 03:45 PM2 min

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Yemen's civil war has flared again after Houthi rebels launched offensives against Saudi-backed government forces. The Houthis also attacked oil facilities in southern Saudi Arabia, wounding dozens. The renewed hostilities are the most serious since a UN-brokered truce halted large-scale fighting in 2022.

Key Facts

The Houthis control most of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, and have launched attacks on Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Saudi Arabia entered the war in March 2015 leading a coalition to restore President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi's government.
The Houthis have defied more than 10 years of bombing by the Saudi-led coalition and US and British strikes.
A China-brokered rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran in 2023 marked a shift toward a less confrontational relationship.

The Houthis

The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, are an armed group controlling most parts of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa and western and northern areas near Saudi Arabia. They emerged in the 1990s and rose to prominence in 2014 by rebelling against Yemen's government, forcing it to step down. The group has spent years fighting a Saudi-led military coalition with Iran's backing. The Houthis have demonstrated missile and drone capabilities in attacks on Saudi Arabia and the UAE, targeting oil installations and vital infrastructure. They have gained international prominence for attacks on Israel and Red Sea shipping since October 2023.

Saudi Arabia

Riyadh entered the Yemen war in March 2015 by leading a military coalition against the Houthis to restore the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. At that time, Saudi Arabia and Iran were at the peak of a regional competition and deeply distrusted each other. An Iran-supported group expanding control at the kingdom's southern border was deemed unacceptable, prompting the military action. A China-brokered rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran in 2023 marked the beginning of a more practical and less confrontational relationship.