As Israel's war with Gaza rages, another conflict is heating up in Yemen's war-torn landscape. The internationally recognized Yemeni army launched a bold offensive against Houthi rebels on Wednesday, capturing two strategic positions in the southwestern province of Taiz.
The assault comes at a particularly volatile moment for the region. The Iran-backed Houthis have been launching attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, declaring their actions as solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. "We will continue targeting strategic locations without any red lines," a senior Houthi official declared, directing warnings at both Israel and regional powers.
In the north, reports emerged of artillery fire in Sa'ada province, though the source remains contested. While Houthi-affiliated media blamed Saudi forces, analysts suggest the attacks likely came from Saudi-backed Yemeni groups rather than direct Saudi involvement.
The timing is particularly delicate. After years of brutal conflict, Yemen had seen relative calm following negotiations between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia. But this latest military push, backed by Western powers and Gulf states, threatens to unravel that fragile peace.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi quickly voiced support for the Houthis, praising what he called their "unwavering stance with the Palestinian people." Meanwhile, the rebel group made the dramatic claim of having thwarted "a joint Mossad-CIA operation," though provided no evidence for the assertion.
For Yemen's internationally recognized government, supported by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, the challenge is clear: how to reassert control while navigating an increasingly complex regional crisis that threatens to draw in multiple powers.
The Houthis' message to their regional opponents was equally clear: "Our commitment to the Palestinian cause," one official stated, "does not mean we will abandon our internal fronts."
i24 News contributed to this article.
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