Jakarta, ThedailyID — Yemen’s Houthi movement has returned to the spotlight as fighting with Saudi Arabia escalates amid the wider conflict involving the United States and Iran.
On Tuesday, September 15, Saudi Arabia said its air defenses intercepted a drone south of Mecca before it entered the holy city’s restricted airspace. The Saudi-led coalition attributed the drone to the Houthis.
The Houthis denied targeting Mecca. Their military spokesman said the group’s targets were Saudi oil facilities and military bases far from the holy sites.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation condemned the reported incident. Saudi authorities also described the security of Mecca and the two holy mosques as a “red line.”
So, who are the Houthis?
The Houthis are an armed political and military movement that controls large parts of Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa. The group emerged in the 1990s and became a major force after seizing Sanaa and other areas in 2014.
The takeover triggered a civil war. In 2015, Saudi Arabia led a military coalition that intervened in Yemen in support of the internationally recognized government.
The conflict continued for years, although fighting between the sides had eased significantly before the latest escalation. Recent clashes have again intensified along Yemen’s Red Sea coast. Reuters reported that Houthi forces have made territorial gains and reached areas near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key global shipping route.
The Houthis are aligned with Iran. The group has developed an arsenal that includes ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones. It has also used anti-ship weapons and naval drones in attacks around the Red Sea.
The group’s military capabilities have grown significantly over the years. Michael Knights, a researcher at Horizon Engage who studies the Houthis, described them as one of Iran’s most committed regional allies, according to Associated Press.
The conflict has also created concerns for Saudi Arabia’s military defenses. AP reported that Riyadh has sought assistance from regional and Western partners as its missile-defense stocks face pressure amid the wider Middle East conflict.
The United States has so far stopped short of directly supporting Saudi Arabia against the latest Houthi advance. The decision follows recent contacts between US officials and Houthi representatives in Oman, according to The Guardian.
Meanwhile, the fighting has broader implications because of Yemen’s location near the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Any prolonged escalation could affect shipping and energy routes connecting the region with global markets.
The latest confrontation therefore goes beyond the long-running Yemen conflict. It is unfolding alongside the wider US-Iran war and a renewed struggle over territory, security and strategic waterways in the Middle East.
