iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Offering some thoughts on the continuing Saudi-Houthi/AA faceoff amidst the potential for increased US involvement. In short: the escalation appears set to escalate video.snapstream.net/Play/abBl1pA...

video.snapstream.net

CNN Newsroom - Houthi Attacks on Riyadh Fuel Yemen Escalation

Updates of news from around the world. - Powered by SnapStream Cloud Sharing

001

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 3h

I'll be discussing the latest on Yemen on CNN at about 9:10 Beirut time.

001

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 16h

i mean did the quasi-romanticization of the well-dressed fascist ever make sense? hugo boss literally made nazi uniforms...

171

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 18h

...and another Houthi/AA strike on Riyadh's King Khaled International Airport. Fourth in less than a week. Underlines Houthi/AA defiance in the face of the widespread international condemnation of yesterday's strike--that is, they have no plans of backing down.

011

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 19h

It's somewhat odd that the significant (and, by day, growing) humanitarian impacts of the incipient siege on Taiz, a city of about a million people, are getting such minimal attention.

052

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 20h

In charting potential means that all of this could escalate, worth remembering that cross-pollination between the Houthis/AA and al-Shabaab is at an all-time high. Not irrational to imagine that the Horn of Africa could end up being dragged into this in some form.

020

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 22h

In contrast, the broader umbrella of anti-Houthi groups spent most of the past few years deeply enmeshed in internal quibbling, most notably last December's STC vs Yemeni government implosion. Uneven nature of subsequent military reform efforts certainly didn't help.

020

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 22h

One thing that is abundantly clear (particularly looking at dynamics on the ground) is the extent that the Houthis/AA were able to use the ceasefire to man up, stock up and basically prepare for a return to hostilities that was more or less inevitable in the long run.

120

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 23h

(Glad to report I've finally figured out which part of my apartment works best for video interviews).

010

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 23h

Thanks to France24 for having me on for a pretty wide-ranging discussion covering current dynamics in #emen and Saudi, how we got here and how Yemeni journalists are among the bravest people I know. www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY2m...

youtube.com

Why Yemen’s war is escalating • FRANCE 24 English

An analysis of daily international events with a guest on set. #SAUDI ARABIA #HOUTHI #YEMEN 🔔 Subscribe to France 24 now: https://f24.my/YTen 🔴 LIVE - Watch FRANCE 24 English 24/7 here:…

110

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Trump teasing potential further US involvement in the escalating Saudi-Houthi conflict... x.com/timourazhari...

x.com

Timour Azhari (@timourazhari) on X

TRUMP ON BLAST AT RIYADH AIRPORT: JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT ATTACK, WILL MAKE A DECISION

030

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Appears that AA/the Houthis have hit Riyadh's King Khaled International Airport again today. The third time in less than a week.

020

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

I'll be discussing the latest on Yemen at 1800 Paris time on France24.

010

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

The @washingtonpost.com 's latest on increasing Houthi/AA attacks on Saudi Arabia amidst on the ground escalation in Yemen, featuring some thoughts from my end. www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/1...

washingtonpost.com

Saudi Arabia faces new level of peril in Houthi attacks, amid wider Iran war

Yemen’s Houthis are striking Saudi oil infrastructure, as compounding Middle East conflicts threaten to expand.

000

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

STC Head Aiderous al-Zubaidi reemerges to comment on ongoing events, hailing the efforts of Southern fighters against the Houthis/AA and framing their efforts as paving the way for a future independent southern state. x.com/skynewsarabi...

x.com

https://x.com/skynewsarabia/status/2108547075181068398

000

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Despite Houthi/AA gains in rural Taiz, local resistance continuing, with a fluid situation remaining in Jabal Habashi, al-Masrakh, et al. Underlines significant local popular (and armed) opposition to a Houthi/AA takeover.

021

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

So much of war is about momentum. A key goal of the Saudi-backed, Yemeni government offensive is to reverse AA/Houthi momentum after losing Mokha. Even as anti-Houthi forces make slow progress up the West Coast, their losses in rural Taiz suggest the Houthis/AA have yet to lose it.

020

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohamed al-Jaber announces that the Houthis/AA have been pushed from Bab al-Mandab x.com/mohdsalj/sta... .

x.com

https://x.com/mohdsalj/status/2108508784049926499?s=20

010

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Fallout of a potential Houthi/AA victory in Taiz: -cements their hold on the SW, freeing up 10s of thousands of Houthi/AA troops to consolidate in Bab al-Mandab -Huge blow to Yemeni govt, esp pres Alimi, a Taizi -Momentum as Houthis/AA aim to cut a Marib deal -Massive IDP outflow

131

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Consolidating in its rural environs, Houthis/AA continue to put the squeeze on Taiz city. Not an exaggeration to say the next few days will be existential for govt-allied forces capacity to hold onto the city, a long standing locus of anti-Houthi/AA resistance.

231

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Second, a rather in the weeds bit of research I co-wrote on the wider dynamics of key anti-Houthi groups in the city (published in 2019 so obviously a lot has changed since...). www.newamerica.org/insights/the...

newamerica.org

The “Proxy War” Prism on Yemen

At New America, our work spans across five issue areas—each essential to building a nation and a world where everyone can thrive.

020

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

With Taiz quickly emerging as a key front in the latest round of fighting, figure its worth pointing to two things I wrote that delve into the city's dynamics and broader meaning for the #Yemen conflict.

130

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Continued escalation over the skies of the Arabian Peninsula: -apparent Houthi/AA hit on Riyadh airport. -Repeated rounds of airstrikes targeting apparent Houthi positions in over half a dozen Yemeni provinces Meanwhile, Houthis/AA continue to tighten a renewed siege on Taiz.

130

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Yemen roundup -Houthi/AA hits on Riyadh -Sustained round of afternoon airstrikes hitting targets in Bani Matar (Sanaa province), Hudayda, Yarim (Ibb province), etc. -Houthi/AA consolidating in Taiz countryside -Amaliqa, et al pushing in SW (Houthis still control Dhabab city) -Marib fronts still hot

141

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

The escalation in fighting has already displaced 200000; as long aa it continues, this number only seems set to climb.

020

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Bab al-Mandab getting the most play, but the humanitarian fallout of the tightening of the Houthi encirclement of Taiz will only deepen—to say nothing of the potential return to street to street urban combat.

140

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

I'll be talking Yemen on Times Radio at around 2145 London time.

010

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

In short, slow movement (as expected, war of attrition dynamic) on front lines amidst Houthi/AA targeting escalation. (Aden is the country's most important functioning airport and the wider complex is also the site of a key military base).

021

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Yemen morning round-up: -Despite some govt gains, Houthis/AA still encircling of Taiz. -No big movements on the West coast; Amaliqa still pushing into al-Waza'iah -Mild govt gains in SW Marib -Houthis/AA strike Aden airport, in addition to targets inside Saudi Arabia -UN envoy Hans Grundberg in DC

131

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Truly bizarre to me that some people are still referring to Yemen as being on "the brink" of full-scale war. If this isn't full-scale war--what the hell is full-scale war?

020

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Complexity of current Yemen dynamics in a nutshell: The Amaliqa brigades, who are under the broader pro-Southern independence umbrella, spearheading a military offensive aiming to push the Houthis/AA out of al-Waziyah, Taiz--ie, north of the pre-1990 border. x.com/aljanoubalyo...

x.com

https://x.com/aljanoubalyoum/status/2107407162410692980

010

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

For those who haven't been: this is what Mokha looks like. The rest of the west coast south to Bab al-Mandab is just as empty and even flatter than this. (Photo from 2022...does not capture the immenseness of the hot wind).

020

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

(You don't have to be an expert on Yemen or military strategy to see that the optics of the Houthis taking over Alimi's Taiz house are...not good for the government).

010

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Yemen overnight update: -Houthi/AA hit back at Riyadh -Houthi/AA continue gains in Taiz interior -Reports of government takeover of Mokha prove--as suspected--greatly exaggerated -KSA naval ops against Hudayda In short: signs continue to point to an extended mutual war of attrition.

156

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Staircase of the minaret of the al-Shadhili mosque, Mokha.

010

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Something truly odd about seeing rando accounts from people who didn't know Mokha from a mojito a month ago suddenly feigning a capacity to hold forth about the dynamics of different crags and valleys in Hujariyyah.

020

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

We'll see how things are settled at the morning, but told Yemeni government/anti-Houthi forces are at least a few miles south of Mokha still...

020

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Yemen in short: the fog of war is fog of war-ing.

041

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

I'll be talking Yemen on ABC-Australia's National Breakfast shortly after the top of the hour.

010

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Claims of a government victory in Mokha appear a bit premature; contacts saying forces are still at the southern gate of the city, which is being heavily targeted by airstrikes at the moment.

110

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

The back and forth on the West Coast may seem shocking, but considering the geography its quite easy to imagine. In contrast to the craggy peaks and valleys of the Yemeni highlands, the coast is flat and empty. Toss in effective air support and, well, I guess we're seeing the results now.

110

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Something darkly poetic about watching Yemen go from the frontline of drone-centric American CT policy to watching Yemeni conflict parties increasingly embrace drone warfare.

010

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Coming days will tell for certain, but would appear Yemen is (re)-entering a war of attrition phase, not unlike earlier, pre-ceasefire stages of the conflict. Key differences? Houthis/Ansar Allah far better armed/equipped, everyone has a lot more drones.

030

Adam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

I'll be discussing the latest on Yemen on Al Jazeera English in roughly 15-20 minutes.

021