India, Oct. 7 -- Yemen is once again at risk of being consumed by a major civil war, with the escalating conflict between the Iran-backed Houthis and Yemen's internationally recognised government threatening to draw in Saudi Arabia and other regional powers, according to an expert.

The renewed fighting comes against the backdrop of the broader US-Iran confrontation, adding another layer to an already complex conflict involving Iran, Saudi Arabia and their respective allies.

Iran backs the Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, while Saudi Arabia supports Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), the internationally recognised government. The United States has aligned itself with Riyadh, while Russia and China are aligned with Iran, wr...