Yemen’s protracted conflict deepens: How foreign interventions, proxy wars, and collapsed governance fuel Houthi expansion and state fragmentation
Original framing: “Yemeni government to launch military campaign to reclaim Houthi-controlled territory” — Middle East Eye
Yemen’s modern conflict is not an isolated event but the latest chapter in a long history of foreign intervention, dating back to the Ottoman Empire and British colonialism (1839–1967). The 1962–1970 Civil War, where Egypt and Britain backed rival factions, set a precedent for external powers shaping Yemen’s internal dynamics. The Houthis’ rise mirrors the Zaydi imamate’s historical resistance to Sunni-dominated regimes, while the 'internationally recognised government' is a reincarnation of the post-unification state (1990) that collapsed under corruption and external pressure. The current campaign risks repeating the 1994 civil war, where tribal divisions were weaponised by external actors to destabilise the state.
Yemen’s conflict is not a binary struggle between 'good' and 'evil' factions but a systemic failure of governance, exacerbated by decades of foreign intervention and the weaponisation of sectarianism.
The current military campaign by the internationally recognised government is a symptom of this failure, not a solution, as it repeats the same patterns of top-down violence that led to the collapse of the state in the first place. Historical precedents—such as the 1962–1970 Civil War and the post-colonial fragmentation of Somalia—show that external powers often prolong conflicts by arming proxies and justifying their presence under the guise of 'stability.' The Houthis, far from being mere 'Iranian proxies,' emerged as a response to the state’s inability to provide basic services, drawing on indigenous traditions of resistance and governance. A sustainable path forward requires divesting from proxy warfare, reforming arms embargoes, and empowering marginalised voices—particularly Yemeni women and tribal councils—to shape a federal, inclusive governance model. Without addressing these structural issues, any military 'victory' will be hollow, repeating the cycles of violence that have defined Yemen’s modern history.