Israeli Institute: Yemen Is Becoming a Regional Power Influencing the U.S. and Israel
An Israeli study states that Sanaa has redefined its security doctrine, shifting from a local actor to a key player influencing regional security and global trade.
NYN | Reports and Analyses
An analysis issued by the Israeli Institute for National Security Studies revealed that Yemen has undergone a notable strategic transformation in recent years, enabling it to move from a local conflict arena to a regional actor with direct influence over regional security dynamics and international trade routes.
Israeli researcher Ari Heistein explained that developments following the events of October 7, 2023 contributed to reshaping Sanaa’s security and strategic outlook, as its role expanded from focusing on internal issues to engaging in regional matters with strategic dimensions.
Resilience Against the Coalition and Military Development
The analysis noted that Sanaa managed to withstand years of war against the Saudi-led coalition prior to the outbreak of the Gaza war, benefiting from the military and political attrition faced by its opponents. This, according to the study, led to a decline in the effectiveness of military operations against it after 2019.
It added that Yemen’s military capabilities significantly advanced by 2021, including the possession of long-range systems capable of reaching targets over 1,800 kilometers away, giving Sanaa greater leverage in shaping regional balances.
Red Sea Operations: The Most Significant Turning Point
The study considered Yemen’s involvement in regional confrontation through Red Sea operations since October 2023 a strategic turning point, with hundreds of attacks carried out against commercial and military vessels, in addition to strikes targeting occupied Palestinian territories.
The researcher emphasized that these developments have turned Yemen into an active player in one of the world’s most important maritime corridors at the Bab al-Mandab Strait, affecting the calculations of regional and international powers linked to maritime security.
Shifting Security Priorities
According to the analysis, Sanaa’s growing regional role has led it to reorganize its security priorities, reducing focus on confrontation with Gulf states in favor of maintaining calm on that front, ensuring efforts are not diverted during its confrontation with the United States and Israel.
A New Regional Strategy
The study concluded that Sanaa’s security doctrine is undergoing a rapid transformation—from focusing on direct regional conflicts to adopting a broader strategy centered on confronting the United States and Israel within a wider regional framework, while maintaining stability on other fronts to sustain its expanding role and enhance its influence in regional and international equations.
