Rashad Al-Alimi, Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council in Yemen, recently declared the start of the ‘Dawn of Yemen’ Operation to liberate Sana’a and restore state authority -- a decisive turning point in the trajectory of the nation since 2011. This operation heralds the end of an unnatural state of affairs that inflicted widespread hardship, poverty and destitution upon the Yemeni population.
A grave strategic miscalculation by the Houthi movement, which attempted to take advantage of Iranian backing to take over the nation, was at the root of the crisis. Functioning as surrogates for a foreign regime, their real ambition was never the defense of the ‘downtrodden’ as they claimed, but rather the encirclement of the Land of the Two Holy Mosques. By seeking control over the holiest Islamic places in Saudi Arabia, they aimed to reshape the social and cultural fabric of the region, believing it will confer the religious legitimacy needed to enforce an ideology that is foreign to genuine Islamic teachings. Since ancient times, Persian geopolitical strategy has relied on dominating the Gulf coasts to project influence and challenge competing empires.
A historical precedent for this strategy was the support for Sayf ibn Dhi Yazan to oust the Abyssinians from Yemen, enabling Persian operatives to infiltrate the governance structure and exercise indirect control. This arrangement resulted in extensive oppression, with dissidents suffering torture or execution, while a public narrative was carefully spun to portray their puppet monarch as a virtuous ruler. A historical parallel is unfolding today. The Houthi movement is reprising the role once played by Sayf ibn Dhi Yazan. A thorough analysis of the historical record reveals that the legendary heroism attributed to this king is largely superficial—a narrative crafted more for image-polishing than for truth. This same dynamic is evident in present-day Houthi rhetoric. While modern technology has transformed their methods, the core strategy has been unchanged.
Rather than attempting to rewrite history, our goal is to emphasize a vital truth previously noted – northern political figures have repeatedly operated as ‘crisis profiteers’, auctioning their allegiance to the highest bidder. They brushed aside decades of full support provided by Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations to the Yemeni state, choosing instead to serve their personal ambitions by acting as proxies for the ‘Regime of Ayatollahs’ in Iran. Throughout these decades, they showed utter apathy toward the plight of their own citizens, specifically the international blockade on the nation as a result of their allegiance to Tehran. In doing so, they mirrored the ill-fated crusade of Abraha Al-Habashi against the sacred Kaaba, heading toward a defeat as inevitable as that of his predecessor. Their reckless bid to disrupt navigation in the Bab al-Mandab Strait is pure foolishness, endangering energy in a crucial global corridor. In response, the legitimate government launched the ‘Dawn of Yemen’ Operation, which is considered a pivotal shift in the conflict.
However, military action alone is inadequate. Tehran’s ongoing backing of this militia is a reminder of its playbook in post-2003 Iraq— where it exploited sectarian divide to seize power, along with its interventions in Syria and Lebanon since 1982. Today, the international community must support the legitimate authorities in Yemen as they establish governance throughout the nation. By overlooking this imperative, Iran is given free rein to continue pressuring the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states, a dynamic that inexorably heightens economic pressure worldwide. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia shouldered an immense responsibility, with its unwavering commitment to the legitimate government in Yemen and standing as a steadfast barrier against the ambitions of Tehran.
Nonetheless, regional stability is not possible through the Saudi efforts alone, especially if the major global players continue to pursue misguided policies aimed at appeasing Iran. As an Egyptian proverb warns, “A kite does not drop chicks,” predators do not offer benevolence. These powers will find out that courting Tehran yields only heightened security threats and terrorism. Such a reality echoes the famous verse of a Yemeni poet, “The most wretched and miserable people in this world are those who ride the lion or those who rule Yemen.”
