Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

3-minute read
26 December 2023 | 16:19 CAT

Many Yemenis worry that the Houthi attacks on Red Sea vessels will spark a Western or Israeli response, dragging their war-battered nation into a new conflict.

On October 19, a United States warship intercepted drones and missiles fired from Yemen as they were heading to Israel. Later, the Houthi group, which has been the de facto authority in north Yemen since 2015, claimed responsibility for firing ballistic missiles at Israel, announcing to launch more.

Now, a spate of attacks by the Houthis on ships transiting through the Red Sea — which the Yemeni group argues are aimed at pressuring Israel to end the war on Gaza that has killed almost 20,000 people — has triggered a backlash from the West.

It has been nine years since Yemen slid into a civil war, sparking a catastrophic humanitarian situation with thousands killed and millions displaced. Since last year, efforts by the United Nations and regional players have helped silence weapons in Yemen, and civilians hope that that will continue, even as talks over a long-term ceasefire remain in limbo.

Yet, in recent weeks, the war in Gaza has cast a shadow on those hopes. Multiple Houthi attacks on vessels traversing the Red Sea, a key maritime trade artery passing through a region that is the world’s biggest oil supplier, have threatened to drag Yemen into a new war.

The Houthi missiles and drones have been a cause of concern for Israel over the past few weeks.

However, Yemeni Academic Dr Najib Al Soudi said the public in Yemen has conflicting views regarding the impact of such attacks.

“Inside, those who follow the Houthis say the Houthis are the heroes, and he did what no other Arab country or Islamic country did. Therefore, the Houthis became the heroes in Arab countries,” says Dr Najib.

Meanwhile, Dr Najib argues, “the Houthis have done the same thing to the Yemenis as Israel does to Palestine.”

Al Jazeera reports, “While civilians in Yemen display worry about the fallout of the Houthi involvement in Israel’s war on Gaza, the Iran-backed group’s leadership and fighters remain defiant.”

Mohammed Nasser, a 28-year-old Houthi fighter on the front line in the city of Marib, told Al Jazeera that if their drones and missiles cannot reach Israel, they can still easily hit targets in the Red Sea, especially Israeli and US ships.

Listen to the full interview on The Daily Round-Up with Muallimah Annisa Essack.