Saudi-Backed Forces Advance in Yemen, but Peace Remains Uncertain

Saudi-Backed Forces Advance in Yemen, but Experts Warn Conflict Is Far From Over

Regional Cooperation Offers Hope, but Yemen’s Political Crisis Remains Unresolved

Efforts to strengthen regional security cooperation are playing an increasingly important role in Yemen’s ongoing conflict. Saudi-backed forces have made gains against Houthi fighters, while regional powers continue to explore ways to protect their security interests and limit the influence of Iran-backed groups.

A recent emergency meeting in Riyadh highlighted efforts to improve coordination among Saudi Arabia and its regional partners. A security pact established earlier in the year is intended to strengthen cooperation in defence and security among the participating countries.

Forces aligned with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) also appear to be participating in the latest offensive. Their involvement could indicate a partial improvement in relations between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, whose approaches to Yemen have not always been identical.

However, analysts caution that military advances alone are unlikely to bring lasting peace to Yemen.

Military Gains Do Not Guarantee Lasting Peace

Forces loyal to Yemen’s Saudi-backed government have continued operations in parts of the country, seeking to strengthen their position against Houthi fighters.

Although these advances may improve the government’s position on the ground, Yemen remains divided among competing political and military groups. Rivalries between factions, disagreements over leadership and the absence of a widely accepted political settlement continue to complicate efforts to end the conflict.

Experts say that maintaining control over newly captured territory could prove more difficult than taking it.

Hisham Al-Omeisy, a senior Yemen adviser at the European Institute of Peace, stressed the importance of establishing unified command structures and resolving disputes among the different factions.

He warned that territorial gains could prove temporary if the Saudi-backed Yemeni government failed to maintain effective control over the areas it recaptured.

According to analysts, a successful campaign would require more than battlefield victories. It would also depend on reliable funding, logistical support, regional cooperation and a clear strategy for governing areas after military operations end.

Without these elements, divisions among anti-Houthi forces could weaken their position and undermine any progress towards stability.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE Face a Difficult Balancing Act

Saudi Arabia and the UAE have both played significant roles in Yemen, but their interests and priorities have sometimes differed.

Their apparent cooperation in the latest developments could strengthen the position of forces opposing the Houthis. Better coordination could also improve the distribution of resources, intelligence sharing and military planning.

Nevertheless, experts warn that cooperation on a particular operation does not necessarily mean that all disagreements between the two Gulf powers have been resolved.

Yemen’s political landscape includes numerous groups with different objectives. Bringing these groups together under a unified strategy remains one of the biggest challenges facing efforts to stabilise the country.

Even if regional partners agree on the need to counter Houthi influence, they may still disagree about Yemen’s future political arrangements and the distribution of power.

These differences could become more significant once the immediate military objectives have been achieved.

How the US-Iran Conflict Could Affect Yemen

The conflict in Yemen is also connected to wider tensions between the United States and Iran.

Analysts argue that the confrontation between Washington and Tehran could influence Iran’s calculations regarding the Houthis and the wider security situation in the Gulf.

The Houthis have developed military capabilities that allow them to threaten regional security and disrupt important transport routes. Their activities have raised concerns among Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, which shares a border with Yemen.

As tensions between the United States and Iran continue, regional governments may find it more difficult to separate Yemen’s internal conflict from broader geopolitical competition.

Analysts believe Iran’s relationship with the Houthis could remain an important factor in the conflict, although the extent of Iranian direction or support for particular Houthi operations must be assessed carefully.

For Saudi Arabia and its partners, the challenge is to protect their security interests without allowing the conflict to expand into a wider regional confrontation.

Could Diplomacy Offer a Way Forward?

Experts believe Gulf countries could explore a separate diplomatic arrangement with Iran to reduce regional tensions.

Such an agreement might help lower the risk of escalation and create opportunities for discussions about Yemen’s future. However, a broader understanding between regional powers would not automatically resolve the country’s internal divisions.

Another possible approach would involve increasing military pressure on the Houthis, including strikes against their leadership and military infrastructure.

Yet analysts caution that this strategy carries significant risks. Further military escalation could lead to additional casualties, retaliation and greater instability across the region.

It could also make negotiations more difficult if the opposing sides become less willing to compromise.

Accordingly, neither diplomatic engagement with Iran nor intensified military operations would necessarily produce a quick solution to Yemen’s crisis.

Timothy Ratney, a former US diplomat who has commented on regional security issues, has described the choices facing Saudi Arabia as difficult and imperfect.

His assessment reflects a broader concern among analysts: Riyadh must weigh the need to protect its national security against the risks of prolonging a conflict that has resisted numerous attempts at resolution.

Yemen Still Needs a Political Settlement

Ultimately, Yemen’s future will depend on more than military coordination between regional powers.

A sustainable settlement would require Yemeni political and military factions to address their disagreements, establish workable governance arrangements and participate in a credible political process.

International and regional partners could help by supporting negotiations, encouraging cooperation among Yemeni groups and ensuring that security efforts are linked to a realistic plan for long-term stability.

Humanitarian needs must also remain a priority. Years of conflict have placed enormous pressure on communities across Yemen, making peace and reliable access to essential services vital to the country’s recovery.

Military gains may change the balance of power, but they cannot by themselves resolve the political, economic and social problems that have fuelled the conflict.

For Saudi Arabia and its partners, the central challenge is therefore not simply to weaken the Houthis. It is to help create conditions in which Yemen can move towards lasting security and a functioning political settlement.

For now, the outlook remains uncertain. Greater regional cooperation could influence the course of the fighting, but without a unified strategy and a credible political solution, Yemen’s conflict is likely to remain difficult to resolve.