Full Breakdown
Saudi Arabia Plans New Offensive to Reclaim Bab al-Mandeb Strait
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Saudi Arabia is preparing a military offensive against Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen. Officials say two options are being weighed: a focused coastal assault to retake the Bab al-Mandeb strait, or a broader multi-front operation that would also hit Al-Bayda, Marib, Taiz and Al-Jawf. The launch is expected in the coming weeks, according to six sources. Yemeni forces would conduct ground actions under Riyadh’s oversight, while Saudi air power would provide support. Mobilization could involve more than 100,000 Yemeni troops, depending on the chosen scale.
Background & Context
The Houthis seized Bab al-Mandeb in September 2024, gaining control of a key Red Sea chokepoint. Saudi Arabia entered Yemen’s civil war in 2015 to support the internationally recognised government after the Houthis captured Sanaa in 2014. A truce brokered in 2022 held until the Houthis’ recent coastal advances reignited hostilities.
Data & Statistics
- Troop mobilization: >100,000 Yemeni soldiers could be deployed.
- Recent Houthi gains: control of Bab al-Mandeb and several Red Sea islands.
- Pakistani deployment: 30,000-40,000 troops stationed in Saudi Arabia for border defence.
- Turkish and Pakistani aid: air-defence systems, light artillery, drones and counter-drone equipment supplied to Saudi-backed forces.
Official Statements & Responses
- Saudi officials say peace talks are impossible while the Houthis hold Bab al-Mandeb, describing the strait as a source of “significant global leverage.”
- The United States is providing intelligence and targeting information, but President Donald Trump has declined requests for direct combat support.
- Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman highlighted the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement—signed on August 7—with Turkey and Pakistan as a collective-security framework.
- France announced deployment of defensive systems and troops to protect the Red Sea port of Yanbu.
- Coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki called a recent drone strike on a Medina power station a “cowardly terrorist act” by the Houthis.
Criticism & Opposition
On-the-Ground Reports
- Yemeni government forces reported heavy fighting around Taiz, with airstrikes targeting Houthi missile depots and command centres.
- The Houthi-run Saba agency accused Saudi Arabia of conducting airstrikes on Sanaa and three other provinces, though it gave no casualty figures.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Medina attack: The coalition said a drone strike on a Medina power station on September 29 disabled one transformer; Houthi officials denied any targeting of holy sites.
- U.S. role: While U.S. intelligence support is confirmed, Trump’s refusal of direct combat assistance creates ambiguity about the depth of American involvement.
Verbatim Quotes
- “As much they want to vanquish the Houthis completely, they also need to get back to status quo ante before Houthis controlled territory along Bab el-Mandeb,” — Michael Ratney
- “I’m not going into detail, but obviously when I say that we are bound by this arrangement to defend Saudi Arabia, that means whatever means are available at our disposal, they’ll be available to Saudi Arabia also.” — Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Pakistan’s defence minister
What’s Next
- An emergency meeting of the Mecca Joint Defence Pact’s committee is scheduled for next week in Riyadh to discuss a possible political engagement with the Houthis.
- Saudi planners are expected to finalize the offensive’s scope within the coming weeks, with the launch date contingent on regional diplomatic developments.