A Tale of Two Conflicts: How the Israel-Hamas War Impacts on the Saudi-Houthi Relationship

Abstract

Abstract This study employs an interpretivist research philosophy and qualitative method based on the analysis of textual sources to analyse how the Israel-Hamas and Saudi-Houthi conflicts intersect, with a particular focus on how the Houthi’s retaliatory attacks on Israeli ships in the Red Sea endanger the fragile peace which has prevailed in Yemen since early 2022. The analysis shows that, while Saudi Arabia would prefer to keep the two conflicts separate, as would the Houthi, this may not be possible, particularly if the Houthi escalate and attack US military bases in the Gulf. The thesis therefore concludes that the Israel-Hamas and Saudi-Houthi conflicts are closely interlinked, such that the more the former spirals into greater violence and suffering, the more likely that the ceasefire in Yemen will begin to fray, as Saudi Arabia finds itself dragged into the Red Sea crisis due to its identity as a status quo power which seeks to preserve regional stability, and thus finds itself once again in the Houthi’s crosshairs as a result. In revealing these aspects, the study draws on constructivist theory to understand how the social actors under investigation construct their identities and security interests, along with how this in turn shapes (and constrains) the choices available to them. This is how the analysis of this specific instance contributes to the broader knowledge about what motivates and influences the behaviour of states and other social actors.