Yemen’s internationally recognized government is accelerating preparations for a major military operation aimed at reclaiming full control of the country from the Iranian-backed Houthi organization. In a landmark development, officials in Aden have announced the first comprehensive national summit uniting pro-government military, political factions, and tribal leaders to coordinate what is described as a final and decisive campaign against the Houthis, who have ruled Yemen’s capital and much of its north since 2014.
The meeting, convened by the head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, marks a pivotal turning point in the country’s long war. According to government statements, participants agreed a comprehensive roadmap for stabilizing the country under legitimate rule and restoring governance to Sana’a through military means if necessary—drawing support from broad swathes of the tribal landscape, as well as the main armed forces and political institutions loyal to the government.
The Houthis—formally known as ‘Ansar Allah’—are an Iranian-aligned militant group that seized Yemen’s capital in a violent coup and have since entrenched themselves with direct backing from Tehran. Analysts widely consider the Houthis a linchpin in Iran’s regional strategy to project power and threaten the Arabian Peninsula, joining a network of proxies that includes Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza, and affiliated militias in Iraq and Syria. United Nations investigators and independent analysts document that Iran has supplied the Houthis with advanced weaponry, including drones, ballistic missiles, and naval mines, some of which have been used to threaten international shipping in the Red Sea and strike targets in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Yemen’s conflict has forced urgent regional and global responses. The Arab coalition—led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with international backing—has focused its military and diplomatic efforts on rolling back Iranian influence and restoring Yemen’s sovereignty. Western governments, including the United States, have provided intelligence and limited logistical support, emphasizing the need for a unified front against Iran’s asymmetric warfare and its direct threat to strategic trade routes.
The human cost of the war has been catastrophic. Houthi militants have been implicated in widespread atrocities: indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas, executions of political opponents, forced recruitment of minors, and obstruction of humanitarian aid. Human rights organizations have detailed the systematic abuse of civilians under Houthi rule, including restrictions on religious and political freedoms, and the diversion of much-needed international assistance. Efforts by the United Nations and regional partners to broker comprehensive ceasefires, including Stockholm and Riyadh agreements, have failed to deliver lasting stability, largely due to repeated violations by Houthi forces.
This latest initiative by Yemen’s government follows the collapse of diplomatic efforts and the escalation of Houthi-led attacks, both inside Yemen and against Saudi and Emirati targets. The Houthis’ refusal to enter sustained political negotiations and their use of periods of calm to rearm have convinced government leaders and allied tribes of the necessity for a coordinated military campaign as a last resort.
For Israel and its allies, the fight against the Houthis carries wider implications. Israeli security doctrine considers the Houthi threat as part of Iran’s broader strategy to encircle Israel using a network of armed proxies. Israeli officials note that Houthi ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as their anti-ship operations in the Red Sea, endanger not only the Gulf region’s stability and international commerce but also potentially Israeli interests.
Despite mounting pressure to act, military experts urge caution, citing the complex urban and mountainous geography of Yemen, the sophistication of Houthi weaponry, and the acute risk to civilians. Any large-scale offensive will require careful planning and measures to mitigate further humanitarian suffering. Government officials have pledged that humanitarian access, restoration of essential services, and the rapid establishment of security and rule of law will be central to their strategy following military operations.
International organizations monitor the situation closely. While they recognize Yemen’s right to resist foreign-backed insurrection and restore national sovereignty, they call for utmost care to protect civilians and facilitate life-saving aid. With the prospect of renewed conflict, agencies warn that Yemen—already home to one of the world’s largest humanitarian emergencies—could face additional acute challenges.
As this pivotal campaign is mounted, its outcome will shape not only Yemen’s future but the security dynamics of the broader Middle East. The government’s efforts to rally all backers, restore lawful governance, and end the Iranian-sponsored insurgency are being watched by stakeholders from Washington to Jerusalem to Riyadh, all of whom see the stabilization of Yemen as a fundamental component in the effort to counter Iranian expansionism and restore regional order.
