Yemen war enters dangerous new phase
The Saudi-led coalition has embarked on a high-risk strategy to force the Houthis to the negotiating table
Since the start of the Yemen conflict in 2015 it has been called a war that neither side can win. Saudi Arabia, along with the UAE and other allies, control the skies and outstrip the Houthis in terms of military might in general. But hundreds of aerial attacks have failed to dislodge the rebels either from the capital, Sanaa, or the Red Sea Port of Hodeidah. Western diplomats in Saudi Arabia and the UAE have spent months trying to dissuade the Arab allies from attacking Hodeidah. In part, this is because the port is the entry point for nearly three-quarters of all the humanitarian aid sent to Yemen. The UN's emergency relief coordinator, Mark Lowcock, said at a press briefing this week that
Also in this section
27 February 2026
LNG would serve as a backup supply source as domestic gas declines and the country’s energy system comes under stress during periods of low hydropower output and high energy demand
27 February 2026
The assumption that oil markets will re-route and work around sanctions is being tested, and it is the physical infrastructure that is acting as the constraint
27 February 2026
The 25th WPC Energy Congress to take place in tandem as part of a coordinated week of high-level ministerial, institutional and industry engagements
27 February 2026
The deepwater sector must be brave by fast-tracking projects and making progress to seize huge offshore opportunities and not become bogged down by capacity constraints and consolidation
