What does the return of fighting in Yemen mean for the Gulf?

28/09/2026

What does the return of fighting in Yemen mean for the Gulf?

For several years, Yemen remained in an uneasy period between war and peace. The conflict was never fully resolved, but the UN-brokered truce in 2022 helped reduce large-scale fighting and created hope that diplomacy could eventually lead to a lasting political settlement. Recent developments, however, have brought Yemen back into regional attention as fighting has intensified and tensions have once again reached beyond its borders. For the Gulf states, what happens in Yemen cannot be viewed as a distant issue.

Yemen shares a long border with Saudi Arabia and overlooks the Bab al Mandab Strait, one of the most important shipping routes in the world. Any major escalation can therefore have consequences for neighboring countries, commercial shipping, energy supplies and the wider regional economy. The renewed Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia are particularly serious and deserve clear condemnation. Missiles and drones directed toward Saudi cities, civilian areas and important infrastructure cannot be accepted or treated as a normal part of regional politics. Civilians should never be placed in danger, regardless of the political or military disagreements behind a conflict.

As Kuwaitis, our relationship with Saudi Arabia and the other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council goes far beyond geography. The GCC countries share close historical, social and economic ties, and developments affecting one member naturally concern the others. The GCC has repeatedly expressed its solidarity with Saudi Arabia following Houthi attacks and its support for the Kingdom in protecting its sovereignty, citizens and residents. There is also the question of maritime navigation. Recent fighting along Yemen’s western coast and developments near Bab al Mandab have again drawn attention to the importance of keeping the Red Sea open and safe for international shipping. Disruption in this area would not remain a Yemeni or Gulf issue. It could affect trade between Asia, the Middle East and Europe and place additional pressure on global supply and energy routes.

At the same time, the Yemeni people must not be forgotten. Years of conflict have already caused enormous hardship, displacement and economic difficulty. Renewed fighting risks creating another period in which ordinary families bear the greatest cost. Supporting the stability of Yemen and condemning attacks against neighboring countries are not opposing positions. Both are necessary for a more stable region. The experience of recent years has shown that military escalation can quickly spread beyond the place where it begins. What happens in Yemen can affect Saudi Arabia, the Red Sea, international shipping and eventually the wider Gulf. The priority should therefore remain clear. Attacks against Saudi Arabia and other GCC states must be firmly rejected, while every serious diplomatic effort that can reduce the fighting and move Yemen toward a lasting political settlement should be encouraged. After years of conflict, the region has every reason to choose stability over another prolonged cycle of confrontation.

By Nasser Al-Hajeri