Heavy fighting in Yemen’s Marib region escalated this week, marking a new phase in the years-long conflict between the Iran-backed Houthi movement and forces loyal to the country’s internationally recognized government, supported by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). As U.S. airstrikes target Houthi strongholds, analysts and officials warn of the possibility of an imminent and bloody ground offensive that could fundamentally alter the balance of power.
Marib, long considered a strategic linchpin for Yemen’s stability, has become the focal point of intense battles. The Houthi’s repeated attempts to seize the city—reportedly enabled by tens of millions of dollars in Iranian funding, military aid, and technical support—have thus far been met with fierce resistance. UAE and Saudi-backed forces, including mercenary units, have consolidated defensive lines with increased flow of reinforcements from the UAE’s border regions, according to local security officials and independent witnesses.
Western and regional intelligence sources cite a major influx of sophisticated weaponry to the Houthis, much of it traceable to Iranian sources, including advanced drones, ballistic missiles, and communications intercept technology. In response, the Saudi-led coalition has employed advanced air defense systems and precision-guided munitions supplied by Western partners, notably the United States. The Pentagon confirmed recent targeted airstrikes against Houthi missile sites and logistics hubs, seeking to degrade their capacity to attack civilian and commercial targets abroad.
Despite years of blockade, counteroffensives, and international mediation, the conflict has defied a decisive outcome on either side. The United Nations estimates that more than 24 million Yemenis require humanitarian assistance and protection, as protracted warfare, economic collapse, and restricted access to food and healthcare exact a mounting toll. Aid agencies have warned that any large-scale ground campaign—currently under discussion by coalition leadership—would further exacerbate the humanitarian crisis, increasing civilian casualties and displacements.
The Houthis are deeply entrenched across northern Yemen, leveraging both Iranian training and local networks. Their cross-border attacks into Saudi territory, including missile and drone strikes repeatedly targeting vital oil and civilian infrastructure, underscore the regional stakes. The United States and its allies express concern over Iranian ambitions: through the Houthis and similar proxies across the region—including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria—Iran attempts to undermine Western-aligned governments while exerting control over critical areas threatening global energy supplies and maritime shipping lanes.
U.S. involvement, while concentrated on airpower and intelligence support, has amplified the Yemeni government’s operational capacity. Senior defense officials indicate that while large-scale American ground deployments are not anticipated, limited special operations missions and continuing logistical support are possible, especially if Iranian-backed forces intensify regional destabilization efforts.
Locally, Yemen’s government and coalition commanders have indicated that the decision for a ground offensive will depend on both military conditions and the evolving political context. This would likely mark the deadliest single phase since the beginning of hostilities. Past offensives have imposed severe human costs without changing the broader strategic picture, fueling skepticism among observers about the prospects for a rapid or clear victory.
The conflict must be viewed as part of a larger regional war imposed by Iran and its proxies—one that challenges not just Yemen’s sovereignty, but the security of Israel and other U.S.-aligned states. Israeli officials, acutely aware of the pattern of proxy warfare since the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre, recognize the expansion of Iranian-backed influence as an existential threat. Events in Yemen are inseparable from Iran’s campaign to destabilize the region, encircle Israel, and threaten maritime security vital to global trade.
The coming summer, already forecast to witness renewed offensives, promises escalation both militarily and on the humanitarian front. International efforts led by the United Nations, the United States, and European powers continue to call for ceasefire and aid access. However, persistent Iranian support for the Houthis has undermined every major peace initiative to date, with both sides preparing for another round of major combat.
Israel, along with its American and Gulf partners, continues to press for coordinated action to blunt Iran’s influence and restore legitimate governance to Yemen. The stakes—regional stability, civilian protection, and the security architecture underpinning energy and commerce—remain as high as ever. The world must not lose sight of Yemen’s significance as both a humanitarian tragedy and a focal point in the struggle against Iranian-backed terror and instability across the Middle East.
