Saudi Arabia is preparing options for a major military campaign against Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis, including expanded naval operations and a possible ground offensive in central Yemen.
Yemeni sources cited in Western media say Saudi forces are being repositioned in eastern Yemen, fueling speculation that Riyadh could support or launch operations against Houthi-held territory. No final decision on a ground assault has been publicly announced.
Riyadh is also working to establish a multinational naval coalition to defend commercial shipping in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Saudi officials said 14 countries, including Egypt, Pakistan, Turkey, Sudan and Djibouti, have backed the initiative, while the United States and several European governments have also been approached.
The preparations follow the Houthis’ July 20 announcement of a blockade targeting Saudi vessels. The group says the measure will remain until Riyadh ends what it calls its blockade of Yemen.
The Houthis also claimed a July 25 strike against Saudi oil transport infrastructure linking the Eastern Province to a Red Sea export hub. Any disruption to Red Sea routes would place additional pressure on Saudi energy exports, particularly while shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains constrained.
