- Saudi Arabia is preparing for a major military offensive against the Houthis by sea and possibly by land in central Yemen, Yemeni sources believe, in a move to break the chokehold on its oil exports through the southern Red Sea.
- Saudi forces have been seen withdrawing from the east of Yemen in what could be preparation for a land offensive.
- The Saudi defence ministry said on Thursday that 14 states including Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, Sudan and Djibouti had issued a joint statement supporting a multinational maritime defence coalition.
- Houthi forces said on 25 July they had hit sensitive oil transport sites inside Saudi Arabia linking eastern province oilfields to a Red Sea export hub.
- The troop movements inside Yemen involve concentrating forces for what could be an attack on al-Bayda, a governorate in central southern Yemen captured by the Houthis in 2020-21.
Saudi Arabia is mobilizing for a military offensive against Houthi forces in Yemen, focusing on securing oil export routes through the Red Sea. This strategic move follows recent Houthi attacks on oil transport sites within Saudi Arabia, which threaten the kingdom's oil supply chain.14
Yemeni sources indicate that Saudi forces are repositioning, potentially preparing for a land offensive in al-Bayda, a region captured by the Houthis in 2020-21. The Saudi defense ministry has announced a coalition of 14 nations, including Turkey, Pakistan, and Egypt, to bolster maritime security against Houthi threats.235
The urgency of this military action is underscored by the potential closure of the Red Sea route, which, combined with the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, could severely limit Saudi oil exports. The kingdom's reliance on these routes for its economy makes the situation increasingly precarious.
“If the Red Sea route is closed to Saudi shipping... the kingdom’s oil export will be severely constrained,” a source noted, highlighting the critical nature of the ongoing conflict.
As two tankers carrying oil for India navigate the Red Sea, the stakes are high for Saudi Arabia, which is determined to maintain its oil supply amidst escalating tensions with the Houthis.
“The Saudi defence ministry announced that 14 states, including Turkey and Egypt, support a multinational maritime defence coalition. Meanwhile, Houthi forces claimed responsibility for attacks on sensitive oil transport sites in Saudi Arabia, intensifying the conflict over oil exports through the Red Sea.”
The Guardian
