Why Saudi Arabia has returned to war in Yemen

This article was republished with permission from the Arab Center Washington DC.When Ansar Allah—commonly referred to as the Houthis—seized Yemen’s Red Sea coastline and strategic islands in the Bab al-Mandab Strait on September 10, 2026, they appeared to gain the upper hand in Yemen’s long-running conflict. However, in early October Saudi-backed government forces began to retake some of the captured territory and Saudi Arabia launched a punishing assault on Houthi positions from the air. France, Pakistan, and the United States have all sent personnel to help the kingdom counter the Houthi off