By John Irish
In a recent interview, Yemen's vice president emphasized the pressing need for local, regional, and international stakeholders to come together and define a new strategy to address the escalating hostilities in the Middle East. The rise in attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who are believed to have acquired hypersonic missiles, has raised concerns about the potential spread of conflict across the region.
Yemen's Houthis have been targeting shipping in the Red Sea in response to Israel's actions in Gaza, posing a threat to commercial vessels passing through the Bab al-Mandab corridor. Efforts by the United States and Britain to strike Houthi sites in Yemen have had limited success, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive approach to curb the group's military and economic capabilities.
Yemen's vice president, Aidarous al-Zubaidi, who is currently at the United Nations General Assembly for talks with key actors, expressed doubts about the prospects for peace talks in the near term. He pointed out that the coordination between Western powers and regional actors is inadequate to effectively counter the Houthi threat.
While he could not confirm reports of Iran supplying hypersonic missiles to the Houthis, Zubaidi suggested that Tehran was using the group as a testing ground for its military capabilities. The ongoing conflict in Yemen has not only impeded efforts to reach a peace deal but has also strained relations between key stakeholders in the region.
As the situation in Yemen continues to deteriorate, it becomes increasingly crucial for the international community to devise a comprehensive strategy to contain the Houthis and prevent further escalation of hostilities in the region.
Analysis: The conflict in Yemen involving Iran-backed Houthi rebels poses a significant threat to regional stability and international shipping routes. The acquisition of hypersonic missiles by the Houthis has raised concerns about the group's military capabilities and its impact on the wider Middle East. Efforts by Western powers to strike Houthi sites have been ineffective, highlighting the need for a more coordinated and comprehensive strategy to address the root causes of the conflict. The lack of progress in peace talks and the frozen efforts to reach a peace deal underscore the urgency of finding a sustainable solution to the crisis in Yemen.