WITH the Houthi Ansarallah movement continuing to target Saudi Arabia, the region stands at a perilous juncture. The Houthi attacks — particularly those targeting the airport at Riyadh — are becoming increasingly destructive, with several people killed and hundreds reportedly injured in Saturday’s strike.
The attack was said to be the deadliest the kingdom has witnessed in years. The airport attacks have been condemned internationally, and there have been mass flight cancellations.
The Saudis, who are backing the anti-Houthi Yemeni government, are poised to strike back at the pro-Iran group with even greater force. Yet a small window of opportunity has opened up, with the Iranian and Saudi foreign ministers discussing matters over the phone on Sunday. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reportedly told his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan that a military approach would “complicate” matters in Yemen, while offering Tehran’s good offices to mediate with Ansarallah.
The Houthis are independent actors; framing them as the puppets of Tehran is inaccurate. Yet they do share ideological and geopolitical ground with Iran, and if Tehran talks, the Houthis are bound to listen. Therefore, involving Iran in talks between the Saudis and Houthis could produce positive results. If Riyadh has any reservations, Pakistan — which maintains channels with both Saudi Arabia and Iran — could also be involved. Oman could be another mediating party, as the sultanate has close ties with both Riyadh and Tehran, besides maintaining an open line with the Houthis. The fact is that Muslim countries — Arab and non-Arab — have a significant role to play in defusing the situation both within Yemen and between Saudi Arabia and Ansarallah.
The US has threatened to get involved in Yemen militarily again. This would be a recipe for great disaster. America has done enough damage in the Middle East, and it is the regional states that must lead the peace process. Whether Iran’s offer is accepted, or Pakistan and Oman attempt a fresh push for a negotiated settlement, some key points must be kept in mind if there is to be long-term peace.
Firstly, the mutual security of Saudi Arabia and Yemen must be prioritised, and the targeting of civilian targets, such as airports, must stop. A temporary truce should then be called to allow the two sides a cooling-off period and come to the negotiating table. Within Yemen, durable peace can only be achieved through a Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned process, which takes on board all the country’s tribes and communities. Such an agreement can also help bring peace to Saudi Arabia, while ending Yemen’s humanitarian nightmare. However, escalation from either side can turn the Yemeni conflict into a regional war — something that all peace brokers must do their utmost to prevent.
Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2026