Yemen’s conflict started in 2014 following the Houthis captured the capital and ousted the government, and violence worsened following the Saudi-led coalition, which included the UAE, intervened in the fighting. The war has taken on elements of a proxy battle between Tehran and its adversaries in the gulf, reflecting long-running geopolitical and sectarian tensions between Iran, a Shiite Muslim theocracy, and the Sunni Muslim monarchies to its west. In the past few months, though, Iran has tried to mend relations with regional powers such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE, raising questions regarding whether it approved of Monday’s attack.
