Yemen offensive

IT appears that escalation is on the cards where the Houthi-Saudi and US-Iran conflicts are concerned. As per reports, Riyadh is planning an offensive to help the Yemeni government — which it backs — retake the strategically important Red Sea coast area from the pro-Iran Houthis, who captured it during a lightning offensive last month. Hostilities are continuing; there were reports on Saturday of both Riyadh and Sana’a being attacked. Meanwhile, members of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement are due to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the Yemen situation. Regarding Iran, the US has reportedly ordered thousands more troops, as well as an aircraft carrier group, to the Gulf. This mirrors the build-up of American forces around Iran before the US-Israeli assault targeted the Islamic Republic in late February. Top US officials have reportedly met at Camp David to discuss the Yemen and Iran files. Diplomacy, it seems, is giving way to more war in the Gulf and the wider Middle East. The humanitarian situation in Yemen is dire, with hundreds of thousands of people uprooted, while the UN says millions of Yemenis, including more than 2m infants, face acute hunger. If the Yemen war sucks in more regional states, it will complicate matters further. The best option, therefore, is for Muslim and Arab states to help restore the Saudi-Houthi ceasefire. The Houthi Ansarallah group must pledge to stop its attacks on Saudi Arabia, while ensuring free passage through Bab al-Mandeb. The Saudis, on their part, should consider lifting the blockade of Houthi territory, while encouraging all Yemeni factions to peacefully resolve the internal conflict. The Yemen war has been raging for over a decade, and previous external interventions have failed to end it; in fact, continued violence has exacerbated the humanitarian situation. With regard to Iran, it appears that President Donald Trump’s administration has halted kinetic action only till the November US midterms, and plans to restart hostilities after elections are out of the way. This would be a grave error. US-Israeli aggression has caused great loss of life in Iran as well as damage to infrastructure, while the global economy has been shell-shocked due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The world — particularly the states of the region — cannot afford more disruption and war. Mr Trump has turned down the recent Iranian proposal to open Hormuz. He should reconsider his strategy and restart dialogue with Tehran, while the Iranians should promise to reopen the strait if the US lifts its blockade of Iran and eases sanctions. The US leader has hailed the exit of American troops from Iraq. He should work on a similar plan to bring his forces home from elsewhere in the Gulf and end the Iran war. Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2026

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