Saudi Arabia Prepares for War as Houthis Blockade Red Sea

The Houthi militia, backed by Iran, has ended four years of relative calm by launching a series of attacks on crude oil tankers and the port city of Mokha in Yemen. The escalation includes ballistic missile strikes on Saudi oil tankers and infrastructure, as well as the declaration of a maritime blockade on Saudi ships in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

In response, the Government of Saudi Arabia has conducted limited airstrikes and provided advanced weaponry to the Saudi-backed Yemeni government, which has targeted Houthi infrastructure. Saudi officials state a preference for peace but maintain they are ready to conduct further airstrikes to protect national interests. Houthi official Mohammed al-Bukhaiti characterized the relationship as already being "practically in a state of war with Saudi Arabia."

To counter the threat, Saudi Arabia spearheaded a multinational Maritime Defense Alliance involving over 14 countries, including the United States, and joined the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement with Pakistan and Turkey. Saudi and Yemeni ambassadors have sought enhanced support from Washington as the conflict unfolds amid a broader regional struggle involving Iran. The United Nations has warned that these developments risk returning Yemen to full-scale conflict, potentially worsening a severe humanitarian crisis.