Battles continue between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces in the Bab al-Mandab region, while the Houthi militias continue to target the Kingdom, as they recently intensified their attacks on Saudi oil facilities and airports. Saudi Arabia responds by bombing Houthi targets in Yemen.
Battles of Bab al-Mandab
The Saudi-led military coalition that provides support to the government in Yemen announced a large operation against the Iran-backed Houthis. The official spokesman for the coalition forces, Turki Al-Maliki, said on X: “We are carrying out a large-scale operation targeting the elements and capabilities of the terrorist Houthi militia.”
Violent battles have been continuing on the ground in several areas of Yemen for weeks, and have witnessed a new escalation since government forces announced the start of a counter-attack on the Houthis to reclaim areas they recently controlled.
Saudi Arabia is participating in the operation, especially by intensifying its air strikes.
Yemeni government military sources reported that coalition-backed forces are advancing in the vicinity of the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait in an attempt to regain it, while the Iranian-backed Houthis confirmed that they continue to tighten their grip on this region and the western coast of the country.
There are conflicting accounts regarding developments in military operations, and it is difficult to independently verify the progress of battles due to field restrictions and risks.
Support Trump, but?
American analysts and officials say that Saudi Arabia receives intelligence support from the United States, but the administration of US President Donald Trump has not reached the level of support that Riyadh and its allies in the internationally recognized Yemeni government were hoping to obtain.
On the other hand, Saudi Arabia relied on other partners, including Pakistan and Turkey, after the signing of the Mecca Agreement, even though Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan confirmed that the alliance was “defensive in nature” and that his country would not carry out military operations inside Yemen.
In turn, Saudi writer and commentator Ali Al-Shihabi, who is familiar with the Saudi government’s trends, believes that the Kingdom appreciates American aid, especially immediate intelligence information on identifying Houthi targets, but it was hoping for greater American support.
He added in a statement to the Washington Post that, in light of the control of a “non-state armed group” over Bab al-Mandab, a major international waterway, it was “unthinkable that the United States would have allowed this to happen in the past.”
He pointed out that Saudi Arabia is not only waiting for American support, but is also seeking to strengthen its cooperation with members of the “Mecca Alliance.”
"Decision or defeat"
The Saudi capital has recently witnessed unprecedented attacks since the start of the Iran war in February, in light of the escalation of the conflict in Yemen after years of calm.
The Houthis intensified their attacks on Saudi territory and its infrastructure and oil facilities. A few days ago, they renewed their warning to airlines against using Saudi airspace.
For his part, Adam Baron, a researcher at the New America Foundation, said that the progress achieved by the Houthis last month made Saudi Arabia feel that the time had become “either decisive or defeated.”
He added in an interview with the newspaper, “Saudi Arabia saw that it had two options: accepting the Houthis’ control over Yemen or proceeding with a large-scale attack, so it chose the attack.” "The two sides are now on the escalation ladder."
