Report: Houthi rebels mobilize troops as possible strike on Iran looms in

Amid heightened tensions with Iran,  the Houthi rebels have mobilized on various fronts within Yemen, in what may be an attempt to “ignite a new round of war”, according to media report.

According to the report, the Houthis have sent military reinforcements to Marib Governorate, where oil fields are located, and to the Hodeidah fronts on the Red Sea, in addition to reinforcements to the northern border fronts.”

This could be part of a Houthi plan to take advantage of Saudi-UAE tensions or to pounce as US-Iran tensions grow.

The report goes on to say that “sources explained that large Houthi military groups moved on from the city of Amran, located 50 kilometers north of Sana'a, to the northern border fronts of the country.”

In addition, “the sources indicated that the rebels deployed to the Saada and Al-Jawf fronts on the northern borders of the country comes as part of the group’s military mobilization to all fronts,” while adding that the Houthis have also sent commanders to the Hodeidah governorate.

The report goes on to say that "the Houthis sent unprecedented reinforcements from Sana'a to the fronts of Marib Governorate”.

The report concludes that “the unprecedented Houthi mobilization and ground attacks on the battlefronts threaten to collapse the fragile UN-brokered truce in place since 2022 and return the situation to square one, according to observers.” It is unclear if this is part of a wider attempt by Iranian-backed groups to create tensions in the region.