Saudi Arabia prepares Yemeni offensive to retake Red Sea coast from Houthis
Primary region Middle East
Tags Security · Diplomacy · Energy
Regions Middle East
Saudi Arabia is preparing to support a Yemeni government offensive to recapture territory and ports on the southern Red Sea coastal plain that the Houthis seized between September 9 and 11, Western and regional officials told Reuters. Saudi and Yemeni government-aligned forces conducted at least 75 airstrikes targeting Houthi positions in Taiz Governorate since October 1. Saudi allies Pakistan and Turkey are providing military support under the 'Mecca Pact' mutual defense treaty signed on August 7. The US delivered a Patriot missile battery to Saudi Arabia in September to protect oil infrastructure.
Strategic interpretation
Saudi Arabia's reported willingness to back a limited coastal offensive reflects a calculation that the Houthis will not negotiate while they hold territory along the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, making military reversal a precondition for any truce. The involvement of Pakistan and Turkey under the Mecca Pact signals a broadening coalition that could raise the cost of Houthi resistance and complicate Iranian support for the group. US Patriot deployments to Saudi Arabia and Qatar indicate Washington is hedging against retaliation against Gulf energy infrastructure. A limited offensive may be militarily feasible, but the risk is that it draws the Houthis into a wider campaign against Saudi oil targets.