Saudi Arabia is exploring an offensive against Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen to secure the key Red Sea shipping route around Bab el-Mandeb, as the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict disrupts regional oil and shipping routes.
Saudi Arabia is considering a coastal push around Bab el-Mandeb or a broader assault on multiple fronts, with the operation potentially involving Yemeni forces backed by Saudi airstrikes, Reuters reported Friday, citing six people familiar with the preparations.
Red Sea Pressure Builds
The offensive could begin in the coming weeks and may involve more than 100,000 Yemeni troops, depending on its scale. The planned operation comes after the Houthis advanced along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, seized the key port of Mocha and moved toward strategically important islands, increasing their leverage over Bab el-Mandeb.
The shipping chokepoint has become increasingly important as the Strait of Hormuz remains severely disrupted by the U.S.-Iran conflict. Saudi Arabia has increasingly relied on the Red Sea route, while Houthi control of Bab el-Mandeb could give Iran and its allies another pressure point over global energy shipments.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had previously sought direct U.S. military help against the Houthis, but President Donald Trump declined direct strikes while offering intelligence support, including targeting information. The U.S. has remained in dialogue with Saudi Arabia and Yemen as Washington focuses on freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.
Last month, Former Secretary of State and CIA Director Mike Pompeo said Iran was using the Houthis to raise the stakes for the U.S. and Saudi Arabia as part of a strategy aimed at preserving Tehran’s regime.
Scope Of Offensive
The scope of the Saudi operation remains uncertain. The options under consideration range from a limited attack focused on the coastal area around Bab el-Mandeb to a broader campaign across Al-Bayda, Marib, Taiz and Al-Jawf, according to the report.
Michael Ratney, a former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, told Reuters he expects any offensive to be “fairly limited,” aimed at restoring the “status quo ante” rather than repeating Saudi Arabia’s broader 2015 campaign.
Saudi-backed Yemeni forces are expected to play a central role in any ground operation, but the forces are made up of disparate factions that were armed and trained by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates during the earlier civil war.
The Saudi government and U.S. military did not immediately respond to Benzinga’s requests for comment.
U.S., Allies Back Riyadh
Washington is providing intelligence support but no direct combat role, while Turkey and Pakistan have supplied military equipment under a defense pact signed last month, the report added. Pakistan has also deployed 30,000 to 40,000 troops to help defend Saudi borders, though it has not decided to send troops into Yemen itself.
Last month, Pakistan sent air-defense systems, light artillery, drones and anti-drone systems to Aden. Turkish drones purchased before the current conflict have also been deployed. France has pledged defensive systems and troops to protect the port city of Yanbu, the report noted.
Saudi Arabia has also sought help from other regional powers as Houthi advances threaten shipping and oil routes. China privately urged Iran to use its influence over the Houthis to prevent further escalation along key energy routes after Riyadh sought Beijing’s help.
The timing of the Saudi operation remains uncertain, with estimates ranging from within a week to after the U.S. midterm elections in early November. A new Saudi-directed offensive would create another regional flashpoint as the U.S.-Iran conflict continues to disrupt major energy and shipping routes, the report noted.
Disclaimer: This content was produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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