Saudi Arabia is preparing for a possible major military operation against Yemeni Houthis. According to information from The Guardian, this could involve not only air strikes and naval actions, but also a full-scale ground offensive in central Yemen.
The reason for the escalation was the situation around shipping and oil supplies through the Red Sea. The Houthis, who control Yemen's capital Sanaa and a significant part of the Red Sea coast, announced a blockade of Saudi vessels on July 20. They claim they are ready to stop it if Saudi Arabia lifts its blockade of Houthi-controlled territories.
According to Yemeni sources, Saudi military personnel have begun withdrawing some of their units from eastern regions of Yemen controlled by the internationally recognized government. It is believed that these forces may be redeployed for an operation against the Houthis, who hold the western part of Yemen.
At the same time, Riyadh is trying to form an international naval coalition to protect merchant vessels in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. According to information from the Saudi Ministry of Defense, 14 countries have already supported the idea, including Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, Sudan, and Djibouti. Saudi Arabia has also invited the USA, Germany, France, the UK, and Italy to join the coalition.
Tensions escalated further on July 25, when the Houthis claimed an attack on Saudi Arabia's oil infrastructure. According to their claims, important facilities were targeted, through which oil from fields in the east of the country is transported to an export terminal on the Red Sea.
This route is of particular importance to Saudi Arabia. Amidst the war between Iran and Israel and shipping problems in the region, authorities fear that the Red Sea could become another dangerous route for oil exports. If it is simultaneously blocked along with the Strait of Hormuz, the country's ability to supply oil to the world market will be significantly reduced.
According to sources of the publication, the regrouping of Saudi troops may be related to the preparation of an operation in Al-Bayda province in the central-southern part of Yemen. The Houthis captured this region in 2020-2021.
Saudi Arabia intervened in the Yemeni civil war back in 2015, supporting the internationally recognized government in its fight against the Houthis. Over the following years, numerous clashes occurred between the parties, but the overall balance of power did not significantly change for a long time. Now, according to The Guardian, this equilibrium has begun to break down.
At the same time, Riyadh, as noted, seeks to demonstrate its ability to defend its territory and oil facilities, but does not want to get directly involved in an even larger conflict with Iran. Saudi authorities still hope that the contradictions between Tehran and Washington can be resolved through diplomatic means. In parallel, Oman and Iran are holding talks on the possible restoration of normal shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Amidst threats from the Houthis, some Saudi oil tankers have already begun bypassing the dangerous Bab el-Mandeb around Africa. This increases the duration of voyages by at least two weeks. Meanwhile, some tankers from other countries, including China and Pakistan, continue to use the strait, so shipping in the region has not yet stopped.
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