What's happened
Yemen remains deeply affected by the Gaza war, with the Houthis continuing attacks on Israel and Israel targeting Yemen. Regional dynamics are shifting as Yemen's secessionist movements and alliances with Israel and the UAE complicate the conflict's landscape. Diplomatic efforts face significant hurdles.
What's behind the headline?
The ongoing Yemen-Houthi conflict is directly linked to the broader regional tensions stemming from the Gaza war. The Houthis' missile and drone attacks on Israel, justified as solidarity, serve as a strategic distraction for their survival amid Yemen's internal struggles. Israel's targeted strikes, including the killing of senior Houthi leaders, indicate a persistent military campaign that is unlikely to end soon. Yemen's secessionist movement, supported by the UAE and aligned with Israel, further destabilizes the region. The recent rhetoric from Yemen's STC leader about normalization with Israel signals a shift towards regional alliances that could deepen polarization. The complex web of military, political, and diplomatic maneuvers suggests that Yemen will remain a key battleground in regional power plays, with little immediate prospect for resolution. The regional actors' pursuit of spheres of influence and strategic partnerships will likely prolong instability, making a comprehensive peace elusive in the near future.
What the papers say
The New Arab highlights Yemen's continued military engagement with Israel, emphasizing the Houthi attacks and Israeli strikes targeting senior leaders, illustrating the ongoing regional conflict. South China Morning Post discusses the broader regional 'Axis of Stabilisation' led by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, aiming to contain Iran and stabilize the Middle East through diplomatic engagement, but notes the lack of a concrete peace plan. The contrasting perspectives reveal a region caught between military escalation and diplomatic efforts, with Yemen's internal secessionist ambitions and alliances complicating the peace process. While The New Arab underscores the persistent violence and military strikes, SCMP emphasizes the diplomatic initiatives and the fragile hope for regional stability, illustrating the complex and multifaceted nature of Middle Eastern geopolitics.
How we got here
The Gaza conflict, ongoing for two years and labeled a genocide by the UN, has expanded regional tensions. Yemen's Houthis, since 2015, have launched attacks on Israel and linked ships, claiming solidarity with Palestinians. Israel has responded with strikes on Houthi-controlled areas, killing senior figures. Yemen's internal conflict, rooted in secessionist struggles since 1990, is intertwined with regional alliances involving the UAE, Israel, and the US, with recent support for normalization efforts and military cooperation complicating the situation.
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.