As the Houthis continue on the path to war against Saudi Arabia and the United States, an entirely different conflict brewing among the anti-Houthi alliance in Yemen threatens to derail the U.S. position in the region.

While the Houthis joined the post-Oct. 7, 2023, wars against Israel in defense of Hamas, the Yemeni civil war that brought the Houthis to power has remained frozen around the 2022 ceasefire. In a development that surprised many, a brief war broke out within Yemen late last year, but between the Houthis’ two chief rivals, the separatist Southern Transitional Council, backed by the United Arab Emirates, and the Presidential Leadership Council, backed by Saudi Arabia. The brief flare-up ended when Saudi Arabia pressured the UAE to withdraw from Yemen, then backed a lightning offensive that brought the STC under PLC control. A large STC delegation was sent to Riyadh, where it has been held since January. The delegation announced the dissolution of the STC.