Houthis re-enter war with Israel, sparking division in Yemen

The Houthi group in Yemen has officially declared its re-entry into the war against Israel, announcing the firing of missiles and a complete ban on Israeli maritime navigation in the Red Sea. This move aligns Yemen with the 'Axis of Resistance,' which includes Iran, Palestine, and Lebanon, and signals a potential escalation of regional tensions.

Brigadier General Esmail Qaani, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force, stated that a new 'security belt' for the Resistance would extend from the Strait of Hormuz to Bab al-Mandab, encompassing the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea. He praised the Houthis' actions and indicated that additional groups might join if Israeli and US actions continue.

Iran had previously threatened to close the vital Bab al-Mandab strait, a key maritime chokepoint bordering Yemen, if the war in Gaza persisted. The Houthis, who have previously targeted ships affiliated with Israel, the US, and the UK in the Red Sea, are seen as capable of enforcing such a closure.

The Houthi escalation has created a division among Yemenis. Some, like Ahmed Al-Faqeeh, a food distributor from Sanaa, view the intervention as an honorable stance to support their 'brothers' against Israel, their 'primary enemy.' He expressed pride in the Houthis' participation, despite remembering the severe Israeli air strikes in August 2025 that followed Yemen's previous intervention.

However, many Yemenis, like Ahmed Daghez, a bus driver, fear the consequences of further involvement. They point to the devastating 11-year civil war that has already caused immense suffering, displacement, and loss of life. Daghez expressed concern that a regional war could have an even worse impact on Yemen, stating, 'Eleven years of internal war is more than enough... we don't need to be involved in a regional war that could have an even worse impact on us.' He recalled the terror of previous Israeli air strikes on Yemen, fearing a repeat of such events.