Saudi Arabia weighs new Yemen offensive against Houthis near Bab el-Mandeb

Saudi Arabia is considering a new offensive in Yemen to reverse Houthi territorial gains near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, according to six regional and Western officials familiar with the preparations who spoke to Reuters. Riyadh has not announced a final decision or a date for an operation.

The officials described two options: a limited campaign along the Red Sea coast to recover the approaches to the strait, or a broader offensive coordinated across several fronts. Yemeni forces backed by Saudi Arabia would lead the ground fighting, with Saudi aircraft providing air support. The reported plans follow Houthi advances last month along Yemen’s western coast and an intensification of Saudi strikes against Houthi positions.

The Red Sea passage

Bab el-Mandeb connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Vessels moving between Asia and Europe through the Suez Canal must pass the narrow waterway. Control of the adjacent Yemeni coast has become especially important while conflict around Iran disrupts the Strait of Hormuz, placing greater pressure on the Red Sea route.

Under the narrower option described in the Reuters investigation, Saudi-backed forces would concentrate on coastal positions around Bab el-Mandeb. A larger campaign could involve simultaneous attacks in Taiz, Marib, Al-Bayda and Al-Jawf, stretching Houthi forces across several provinces. The account rests on officials who spoke anonymously; the Saudi government has not publicly confirmed either plan.

Support and unresolved risks

The United States is supplying intelligence and military advice for Saudi operations, according to one Western diplomat cited in the report, but American combat forces are not expected to participate directly. Officials also described defensive assistance from other partners to protect Saudi infrastructure against missiles and drones. Any ground assault would depend on Yemeni factions whose coordination and readiness have been tested by years of war and recent Houthi advances.

Saudi Arabia entered Yemen’s civil war in 2015 in support of the internationally recognised government. A truce agreed in 2022 largely held for years, but renewed attacks and fighting have put the arrangement under strain. The kingdom is now weighing the military and economic risks of leaving the Houthis near the maritime chokepoint against the difficulty of a new ground campaign.

There is no confirmed start date or final scope for the proposed operation. Officials’ estimates of a possible launch ranged from within a week to after the US midterm elections in November. Saudi and Yemeni officials and Houthi representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the reported preparations.