Under Pressure: Houthis Reopen Roads After Years of Blockade – Tactical Move or Genuine Change?

After nearly a decade of road closures across Yemen, the Houthi group has begun reopening key routes that had long been off-limits since the start of the war in 2015. The sudden shift has raised questions about the motives behind this unexpected flexibility.

This week, the Houthis reopened the "Aqabat Thura" road connecting Al-Bayda to Abyan for the first time in nine years. The move followed successful mediation by local initiatives such as the "White Flags" team.

Analysts suggest that the change is less about humanitarian concern and more a reaction to intensified economic pressure. With their Red Sea ports — Hodeidah, Ras Issa, and Salif — heavily damaged by U.S. and Israeli airstrikes, the Houthis appear to be seeking alternative overland supply routes.

Experts told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that fuel and food imports through Houthi-controlled ports have dropped by 17% in the first five months of 2025, forcing the group to rely on road access through government-controlled areas to sustain their hold over northern regions.

While the government insists on keeping the road issue strictly humanitarian, the Houthis continue to use it as a bargaining chip — opening or closing routes based on political gains or economic necessity.

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