ABSTRACT
Like most conflicts in Yemen, the current war has deep roots. In 1962, a coup within the military overthrew the Zaydi Imamate and, following an eight-year civil war, instituted a republic in northern Yemen. The Saudi-led coalition has largely relied on airstrikes and local forces on the ground. The Houthis have benefitted from a growing alliance with Iran, which has smuggled ballistic-missile components into Yemen in violation of United Nations security council resolutions. The nationwide truce between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition was extended twice, each time for two months, before expiring in October 2022. However, a resumption of large-scale violence did not ensue; for the most part, the country settled into an unofficial truce. The developments highlight Saudi Arabia’s increasing fatigue with the conflict and its willingness to accept Houthi control in the north as part of the price for its withdrawal.
