In a significant development in the long-running Yemen conflict, the vice-president of the UN-recognized government in Aden has called on Western powers to seize the moment and strike the Iran-backed Houthi forces. Speaking to the Guardian from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Aidarus al-Zoubaidi argued that Iran’s recent setbacks in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza have left the country “massively weakened,” with Yemen remaining its last stronghold in the region.
“Now is the time to counter the Houthis and push them back into their position,” Zoubaidi asserted, urging Yemen’s ground forces to work in tandem with Western airstrikes as part of a coordinated strategy. He further called on the new US administration to designate the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization, praising former President Donald Trump for his “decisive leadership” on the issue.
A Weakened Iran and a Perceived Opportunity
Zoubaidi’s remarks suggest that the Aden-based Presidential Leadership Council sees the current geopolitical climate as an opportune moment to launch a joint military offensive against the Houthis. With Iran’s influence diminished across the region, the Yemeni government believes that Tehran will double down on its support for the Houthis as its last remaining proxy force.
“Iran will not give up on the Houthis, but on the contrary double down on its support for the Houthis as the last remaining component of its chain of proxy forces. So this is the right time for us also to double time and push them to the maximum”.
– Aidarus al-Zoubaidi, Vice-President of Yemen’s UN-backed government
Iran, for its part, maintains that the Houthis are an independent political force and not a proxy under its control. However, the Yemeni government’s stance reflects a growing perception that the tide may be turning against Iran and its allies in the region.
Calls for Targeted Airstrikes and Ground Operations
Zoubaidi emphasized that the recent US and UK airstrikes against the Houthis have been ineffective, as they failed to target the group’s leadership or key headquarters. He called for a more comprehensive approach that combines airstrikes with ground operations.
- Targeted airstrikes against Houthi leadership and key locations
- Coordinated ground operations by Yemeni forces
- Intelligence sharing with all parties attacking Houthi positions
The Houthi leader, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, recently announced that during the Gaza ceasefire, his forces would only attack shipping directly linked to Israel, sparing British or US-owned vessels. The group claims to be in talks to release the crew of the Galaxy Leader, held hostage since November 2023.
Criticism of US Policy and Call for Terrorist Designation
Zoubaidi criticized the Biden administration for its “lack of assertiveness” in dealing with the Houthis, particularly the decision to lift the foreign terrorist designation in favor of a lesser classification. He argued that this move had given the Houthis more room to maneuver and carry out attacks.
“The decision had given the Houthis space in which to work and to do what they have done”.
– Aidarus al-Zoubaidi on the US decision to lift the Houthis’ terrorist designation
The Yemeni government’s stance suggests that the year-old diplomatic roadmap for peace is no longer seen as a viable option. It remains to be seen whether Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (which supports the separatist Southern Transitional Council led by Zoubaidi), and the new US foreign policy team will back this call for a tougher military approach.
As the complex web of alliances and rivalries in the Middle East continues to shift, the fate of Yemen hangs in the balance. The Yemeni government’s appeal to the West to strike while Iran is weakened underscores the high stakes and the urgent need for a resolution to the devastating conflict that has plunged the country into a humanitarian crisis.
