Despite hopes for a thaw amid the widening Middle East conflict, the Houthis’ surge is acting as a spanner in the works. Reports that the pro-Iran Yemeni militia launched drone attacks on an electricity facility in the holy city of Medina have taken the Muslim world by surprise, pushing the regional security paradigm to the edge. Likewise, unconfirmed reports indicate that American authorities are investigating potential Iranian links to a thwarted midair insider attack on a Flydubai airliner en route to Tel Aviv. This, too, has upped the ante, with US warning of a severe backlash against Iran. Finally, an unannounced, lethal conflict between Yemeni state security forces and the Houthis is hampering navigation across the strategic Bab-el-Mandeb waterway, escalating Saudi Arabia’s security risks to unprecedented heights.
This escalation on the part of the Houthis is uncalled for. The non-state actor is unnecessarily expanding the orbit of war, inviting retribution with dire consequences for the entire region. Loud explosions were also heard in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, which is controlled by Houthi forces. This indicates that the Iranians, too, are engaged in a power struggle, using proxies as leverage for realpolitik. Furthermore, the prospective withdrawal of US troops from Iraq and Syria, paired with Washington’s positioning as an ally of Saudi Arabia, represents a new twist in regional dynamics. Moreover, the US deployment of additional Patriot missile batteries to Saudi Arabia and Qatar and the Pentagon signing a massive contract for the production of SM-6 missiles are clear signs of broadening warfare.
The million-dollar question is: where are statecraft and diplomacy? Why do they take a backseat every second day? Why are the Pentagon and the IRGC so obsessed with warmongering while their respective diplomatic echelons strive for a thaw in all sincerity? It is a fact that non-state actors are a reality in the Middle East power dynamics, but the Houthis are going over the brink as spoilers. Tehran has a responsibility to prevail over the Houthis and ensure that Saudi Arabia’s territorial integrity is not breached.
