'Decade-Old Frozen Conflict': Yemen Teeters Towards Renewed War in Shadow of Iran Conflict

Yemen is edging towards renewed war after a decade-old frozen conflict, with Houthi and Yemeni government forces building up along front lines from the Red Sea coast to the Saudi border.

Houthi attacks on a Saudi airport and naval blockade on Saudi shipping, including two tanker attacks, test Saudi patience and may change its calculus since the 2022 ceasefire.

Houthis claim the airport attack responded to a Saudi attack on an airport under their control and the blockade responded to a Saudi siege on Yemen, which Saudi Arabia denies.

UN special envoy Hans Grundberg says recent events are a setback for Yemenis and his mediation efforts continue, but a Western diplomat cites growing pessimism for a negotiated resolution.

Analysts say Houthis and their Iranian backers see an opening to pressure Saudi Arabia and the US amid the Iran war, with the blockade threatening millions of barrels of oil pumped via pipeline to the Red Sea.