Saudi Arabia is planning a military attack on the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. This operation, expected to begin in the coming weeks, will include options such as coastal advances to secure the shipping route in the Red Sea or attacks from multiple fronts.
Details of the Military Operation
According to obtained information, this operation will be led by Yemeni forces under Riyadh's supervision and will be supported by Saudi airstrikes. While the United States is providing intelligence and military advice to Saudi Arabia to support the operation in Yemen, allied countries are not expected to participate directly in combat operations.
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Saudi Arabia has been involved in Yemen's civil war since 2015, leading an Arab coalition to support the internationally recognized government that the Houthis had ousted from Sana'a. A ceasefire agreement between the warring parties, signed in 2022, has largely been maintained until this year; however, the Houthis have recently launched missile and drone attacks against Saudi maritime and oil facilities.
Objectives and Possible Consequences
According to statements from Western diplomats and Gulf officials, the key objective of this attack is to reverse the rapid advances made by the Houthis last month. The Houthis have gained a strategic position by advancing along the coasts and seizing control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Saudi Arabia is considering two options for this attack: one is a focused assault on the area around Bab al-Mandab, and the other is a broader attack that includes coordinated strikes on multiple fronts in Yemen.
Over 100,000 Yemeni forces may be mobilized for this operation, depending on the scale of the attack. Intelligence sources have also indicated that Saudi Arabia will not be able to enter new peace negotiations with the Houthis while the group controls Bab al-Mandab.
In light of security concerns, Saudi Arabia is seeking assistance from several countries to protect its oil facilities and infrastructure from Houthi missile and drone attacks. Additionally, Pakistan has deployed 30,000 to 40,000 troops to strengthen Saudi Arabia's land borders and help counter drone and missile attacks.
Ground operations in Yemen depend on various coalitions that Saudi Arabia and the UAE armed and trained in the early stages of the civil war. These coalitions must establish sufficient coordination to achieve Saudi Arabia's objectives in these diverse and complex circumstances.
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