The War in Yemen: Domestic Conflict, Regional Rivalries and International Responses

Abstract

Speakers Yazeed Al-Jeddawy, Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies Fatima Abo Alasrar, Arab Gulf States Institute The war in Yemen remains a complex and protracted conflict shaped by domestic political divisions, competing visions of state authority, regional rivalries and wider geopolitical developments. Despite repeated diplomatic initiatives, the country continues to face profound political and security challenges, alongside a pressing humanitarian crisis. Widespread food insecurity, displacement, economic deterioration and the erosion of essential services continue to affect millions of Yemenis, while constraints on humanitarian access and declining international funding further complicate the response. These challenges underscore the close relationship between the prospects for peace, political stability and the ability to address Yemen’s urgent humanitarian needs. This webinar will examine the dynamics of the Yemeni conflict, focusing on the role of the Houthi movement, the fragmentation of political authority and the competing interests of domestic actors. It will explore how local power struggles intersect with regional rivalries, particularly involving Iran and the Gulf states, and how these relationships shape the trajectory of the conflict, the calculations of key actors and the prospects for a negotiated settlement. The discussion will also consider the wider regional and international dimensions of the war, including its implications for regional security, developments in the Red Sea and the strategic interests of external powers. Particular attention will be given to the humanitarian consequences of the conflict, the obstacles to delivering assistance, and the relationship between economic deterioration, civilian vulnerability and political instability. The webinar will further assess the challenges facing diplomatic efforts, the prospects for renewed negotiations and the conditions necessary for an inclusive and sustainable political settlement. Bringing together expertise in Yemeni politics, conflict analysis and regional security, the webinar will examine the conflict beyond its immediate military dimension. It will consider how domestic fragmentation, regional competition and international engagement interact with the deepening humanitarian crisis, and what these dynamics mean for Yemen’s prospects for peace, recovery and long-term stability.