10/15/2026

 

Samuel Clifford

 

Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia

 

The Middle East has become arguably the most unstable region across the entire world with multiple conflicts happening simultaneously. Firstly, the U.S.-Iran War has been emphasized by the media and is on the majority of news channels every day. Secondly, the Israel-Palestinian conflict has begun to die down after years of conflict but there is still a lot of instability and fighting in certain areas. Thirdly, the Lebanon-Israel conflict between Israel and Hezbollah continues with tensions remaining high. Fourthly, conflict in Syria between what was two sides and considered a civil war is now a larger conflict involving multiple factions and countries. Finally, the Houthi-Saudi conflict rages on with multiple developments within the last couple months. The focus of this article is to go over the Houthi-Saudi conflict. 

 

Who are the Houthis?

 

The Houthis themselves don’t call themselves the Houthis they call themselves “Ansār Allāh” which means “Defenders of God.” Others call them th Houthis due to their founding figures name. Politician and Zaydī activist Hussein Badr al-Din al Houthi organized the “Believing Youth” which was created to preserve Zaydī culture and oppose foreign influence in the Yemeni government. The Zaydī Muslims were a minority sect within Shi’i Islam that lived in northern Yemen for centuries and believe that Muslim leadership should come from qualified descendants of the Prophet Muhammad, while maintaining many religious views similar to Sunnis. The “Believing Youth" originally focused on religious education and cultural survival but overtime Hussein Badr al-Din al Houthi became more critical of the Yemeni government and they organized protests and anti-government demonstrations. In 2004, the Yemeni government attempted to arrest Hussein al-Houthi, and he was killed during the conflict. His death triggered an armed uprising by his followers, who became known as the Houthis.

 

The Saada Wars: Beginning of Conflict

 

After the death of Hussein Badr al-Din al Houthi a series of conflicts broke out that are called the Saada Wars. Six total conflicts make up this event and while all conflicts could be discussed extensively it is not the purpose of this article to go over each individually. Instead a brief summary of what the Saada Wars were and how they led to conflict today will be found below. The Saada Wars were fundamentally a struggle between the Yemeni government and the Houthi movement over political power, religious identity, and the future of northern Yemen. The Houthis argued that Zaydi Muslims had been politically and economically marginalized and opposed what they viewed as the growing influence of Saudi Arabia, the United States, and Salafi religious movements within Yemen. In contrast, the Yemeni government viewed the Houthis as a threat to state authority and national unity. Government leaders feared that the movement was establishing an autonomous power base in Saada Governorate and could eventually challenge the government's control over the country.

 

As the conflict developed, Yemeni forces launched repeated military campaigns to defeat the rebels, while the Houthis relied on guerrilla tactics and the mountainous terrain of northern Yemen to resist government offensives. Although several ceasefires were negotiated throughout the conflict, none produced a lasting peace, and fighting repeatedly resumed. The largest phase of the war occurred in 2009 when the Yemeni government launched Operation Scorched Earth, a major offensive intended to decisively eliminate the Houthi insurgency. Instead of ending the rebellion, the campaign widened the conflict and contributed to fighting along the Saudi Arabian border, eventually drawing Saudi forces into the war. 

 

By the time the final ceasefire was reached in 2010, neither side had achieved a decisive victory. However, the Houthis emerged from the conflict more experienced, better organized, and politically stronger than they had been at the start of the wars. The failure of the government to defeat the movement allowed the Houthis to expand their influence during the political instability that followed the Arab Spring in 2011. As a result, the Saada Wars are widely viewed as the foundation of the modern Yemeni conflict. The military experience, political legitimacy, and support networks gained during these six wars ultimately helped the Houthis seize the capital city of Sanaa in 2014, leading directly to the broader civil war that continues to shape Yemen today.

 

What has happened recently?

 

In September, Houthi forces launched a rapid offensive along Yemen's western coast, capturing the strategic port city of Mokha (Mocha) and Perim Island near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. These gains gave the Houthis greater influence over one of the world's most important shipping chokepoints. The renewed fighting effectively ended the relative calm that had existed since the 2022 UN-mediated truce. Hostilities expanded across multiple fronts, including Taiz, Marib, and Al-Jawf governorates.

 

Over the last two months, Saudi Arabia has played a central role in the renewed escalation of the Yemen conflict. After the Houthis made rapid advances along Yemen's Red Sea coast and seized key territory near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Saudi leaders became increasingly concerned that the group could threaten major shipping routes and regional security. In response, Saudi Arabia backed a major counteroffensive by Yemen's internationally recognized government. Saudi-supported forces launched Operation Dawn of Yemen, an effort designed to reverse Houthi gains and reestablish government control over strategic areas along the Red Sea coast.

 

As the campaign intensified, Saudi military support helped government forces push toward territory that had been captured by the Houthis during their September offensive. The operation represented one of the most significant military efforts by the Saudi-backed side in years. At the same time, Saudi Arabia faced a series of Houthi missile and drone attacks. These strikes targeted airports, military facilities, and energy infrastructure, demonstrating the Houthis' ability to project force beyond Yemen's borders. Some of the attacks caused casualties and damage, forcing Saudi authorities to rely heavily on air defense systems to intercept incoming threats. The repeated strikes highlighted the vulnerability of key Saudi infrastructure despite years of investment in defense capabilities.

 

The renewed fighting has effectively drawn Saudi Arabia back into a high-intensity confrontation with the Houthis after several years of relative calm. Saudi officials have argued that their actions are necessary to protect national security, civilian infrastructure, and freedom of navigation through critical maritime routes. Although government forces have made gains in some areas, neither side has achieved a decisive victory. As a result, Saudi Arabia continues to balance offensive operations in support of Yemen's government with defensive efforts aimed at protecting its own territory from further Houthi attacks.

 

Effects Globally: 

 

The Houthi conflict has had significant effects on the global economy by disrupting some of the world's most important maritime trade routes. Houthi operations in the Red Sea and around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, have increased risks for commercial shipping and raised transportation costs for companies moving goods between Europe and Asia. These disruptions have forced some vessels to take longer routes around the Cape of Good Hope in southern Africa, adding weeks to shipping times and increasing fuel expenses. The conflict has also contributed to volatility in global energy markets, as concerns over attacks near key shipping lanes and regional energy infrastructure have pushed oil prices higher and raised fears about the security of supply chains. Insurance premiums for vessels operating in the region have climbed, increasing costs for shipping companies and ultimately consumers. Because a substantial portion of global trade and energy exports passes through the Red Sea and nearby waterways, instability caused by the Houthi conflict has had economic consequences far beyond Yemen, affecting international trade flows, energy prices, and global inflationary pressures.

 

Conclusion:

 

The conflict in Yemen between the Yemeni government and the Houthis has been going on for at least two decades with no end currently in sight. Renewed fighting in the region with Saudi Arabia also joining the fray continues the unstable nature of the region in an already contentious situation given other conflicts. These events have a larger effect than just their local regions but in fact affect world economies. 

 

Sources:

 

"Houthi Movement." Britannica Academic, Encyclopædia Britannica, www.britannica.com/topic/Houthi-movement. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

 

Zimmerman, Katherine, and Christopher Harnisch. “Profile: Al Houthi Movement.” Critical Threats Project, American Enterprise Institute, 28 Jan. 2010, https://www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/profile-al-houthi-movement. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

 

“Fighting in Yemen Intensifies: What's the Latest on the Battlefield?” Al Jazeera, 15 Oct. 2026, www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/15/fighting-in-yemen-intensifies-whats-the-latest-on-the-battlefield. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

 

“Deadly Houthi Attacks in Yemen's Taiz as Government Forces Advance in Marib.” Al Jazeera, 13 Oct. 2026, www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/13/deadly-houthi-attacks-in-yemens-taiz-as-government-forces-advance-in-marib. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

 

“Who Are the Houthis and Why Are They Attacking Saudi Arabia's Airports?” TIME, 15 Oct. 2026, time.com/article/2026/10/15/who-are-the-houthi-rebels-saudi-arabia-oil-airport-attacks/. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

 

Azhari, Timour, and Mubasher Bukhari. “Saudis Plan Assault on Houthis to Break Red Sea Chokehold.” Reuters, 2 Oct. 2026. Reprinted in U.S. News & World Report, www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2026-10-02/saudis-plan-assault-on-houthis-to-break-red-sea-chokehold. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

 

Ghobari, Mohammed, and Timour Azhari. “Yemeni Government Forces Drive Houthis From Bab El-Mandeb Strait.” Reuters, 5 Oct. 2026. Reprinted in U.S. News & World Report, www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2026-10-05/yemeni-government-forces-seize-district-by-bab-el-mandeb-military-sources-say. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

 

“Yemen, October 2026 Monthly Forecast.” Security Council Report, 1 Oct. 2026, www.securitycouncilreport.org/monthly-forecast/2026-10/yemen-91.php. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.