Saudi Arabia prepares to resume strikes against Houthis in Yemen
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Saudi Arabia is preparing to resume military action against Yemen's Houthis after weeks of attacks on hospitals, ships, airports and oil facilities. Riyadh prefers peace but is ready for war and will defend itself by any means, an unnamed Saudi official said. The move could open a new front in the U.S. war against Iran and its Houthi allies, The New York Times reported.
Key Facts
- Saudi Arabia is preparing to resume military action against Yemen's Houthis after weeks of attacks on hospitals, ships, airports and oil facilities.
- An unnamed Saudi official said Riyadh prefers peace but is ready for war and will defend itself by any means.
- Houthi spokesman Muhammad al-Bukhaiti said the group is in a de facto state of war with Saudi Arabia and threatened to destroy all oil and critical infrastructure in the kingdom if a large-scale conflict erupts.
- UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg told the Security Council that Yemen faces the risk of returning to full-scale war for the first time since the 2022 ceasefire.
- Saudi Arabia has improved military coordination among anti-Houthi groups and supplied them with modern weapons, according to International Crisis Group senior analyst Ahmed Nagi.
Saudi Military Preparations
Saudi Arabia is preparing to resume military action against Yemen's Houthis after weeks of attacks on hospitals, ships, airports and oil facilities. An unnamed Saudi official said Riyadh prefers peace but is ready for war and will defend itself by any means. If Houthi attacks continue, the kingdom is prepared to launch airstrikes in support of the Yemeni government and the anti-Houthi coalition. The New York Times reported that analysts believe Saudi Arabia may try to weaken the group and force it to negotiate on terms acceptable to Riyadh. However, communication channels between the parties that had been maintained for years have been severed.
Houthi Response and Threats
Houthi spokesman Muhammad al-Bukhaiti said the group is in a de facto state of war with Saudi Arabia. He threatened to destroy all oil and critical infrastructure in the kingdom if a large-scale conflict erupts. The Houthis describe their attacks as a preventive measure and accuse Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni government of preparing for a ground offensive. Clashes inside Yemen between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed government have intensified in recent weeks.
Regional and International Implications
UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg told the Security Council that Yemen faces the risk of returning to full-scale war for the first time since the 2022 ceasefire. The conflict in Yemen began in September 2014 when the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa. A UN-brokered truce reached in April 2022 was extended several times. Saudi Arabia has improved military coordination among anti-Houthi groups and supplied them with modern weapons, according to International Crisis Group senior analyst Ahmed Nagi. Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council member Abdullah al-Alimi said returning Sanaa to government control has become inevitable.
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Saudi Arabia prepares to resume strikes against Houthis in Yemen
