The U.S. military has been conducting strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen since mid-March, according to DER SPIEGEL, as the conflict escalates with renewed violence. Dozens of people have been killed in these attacks, which Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi claims are a pre-emptive response to Houthi threats to resume attacks on shipping. Alimi, now 71, has been the head of the internationally recognized Yemeni government since April 2022, leading a government that was driven out of the capital Sanaa in 2015 and now operates from Aden.

Houthis Launch Attacks on Israel Amid Regional Tensions

According to tagesschau.de. The Houthi militia has entered the conflict in support of Iran, launching a rocket attack on southern Israel for the first time since the war began. The rockets were intercepted. But residents in Tel Aviv. Like Eynav, described the exhausting reality of living with constant sirens warning of attacks; Eynav shared that she must run to a bunker every time an alert sounds, often at night, and that her 8-year-old nephew is particularly frightened. Many in Tel Aviv lack private safe rooms and rely on neighbors’ bunkers for protection.

Historical Roots of the Houthi Movement

According to a Korean source, the Houthi movement, officially known as Ansar Allah, has expanded beyond a local militia to become a non-state military actor with significant influence in Yemen and the broader Middle East. The movement controls about one-third of Yemen’s territory and is supported by a substantial portion of the population. The Houthi movement’s growth is deeply tied to the religious and socio-political context of Yemen, particularly the Zaydi Shia branch of Islam, which has a long history in the region.

Regional Escalation and Trump’s Role

El Confidencial reports that Saudi Arabia has reopened hostilities with the Houthis, breaking a years-long truce. On one lune, the Houthis launched missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia’s Abha International Airport, in response to an alleged Saudi attack on Sanaa International Airport. The Houthis have accused Saudi Arabia of trying to block an Iranian plane carrying returning Houthi members from the funeral of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. A U.S. official reportedly said the plane was carrying weapons and military experts for the Houthis, but no further details have been released. The escalation is said to have had the support of Donald Trump.

Meanwhile, according to IDNFinancials, Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence issued warnings for Yanbu and Jizan after Houthi attacks. Videos on social media showed smoke rising from the direction of the Saudi Aramco refinery in Jizan. Two Asia-based trading sources reported some damage at the site, though no official reports of damage were issued. The Houthi attacks on Yanbu and Jizan had occurred previously, before a 2022 UN-brokered ceasefire with Saudi Arabia, which has now collapsed.