Yemen Teeters on the Brink of Civil War as Regional Stability Hangs in the Balance

While the Middle East waits to learn whether a deal can be reached to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, fighting between Yemen’s internationally recognized government and Iran-backed Houthi rebels has intensified overnight.

The Yemeni government said its forces launched retaliatory strikes against the Houthis on Saturday following several days of attacks on military positions. The latest escalation has raised fears that Yemen could once again slide into full-scale civil war.

The renewed violence comes as stability across the Middle East remains increasingly fragile. Although fighting between the United States and Iran has entered a lull, the region is waiting to see whether an agreement can be finalized to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and prevent another round of conflict.

Iranian officials on Saturday presented a series of conditions for reopening the strategic waterway, saying the United States would have to meet those demands.

The Yemeni government’s counteroffensive followed a rapid escalation that began two days earlier, when the Houthis attacked military positions in the oil- and gas-rich provinces of Marib and Hadramout. According to the Yemeni government, at least 17 soldiers were killed in those attacks.

The violence continued on Friday, with the Houthis reportedly attacking civilian neighborhoods and a large camp for internally displaced people near the city of Marib. The Yemeni government said two people were killed and 14 others were wounded, including children.

The renewed fighting has raised concerns not only about Yemen’s fragile internal stability but also about the wider security situation across the Middle East. If the conflict between the Houthis and the Yemeni government continues to escalate alongside tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, the region could face another dangerous period of instability.