Play store
Saudi Arabia is preparing for a major military operation to retake the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait from Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen, with more than 100,000 Yemeni troops potentially being deployed, Reuters reported, citing officials familiar with the plans.
According to the report, Saudi-controlled Yemeni forces would conduct the ground offensive, while Saudi Arabia would provide air support. Six people involved in the planning said the operation could begin within the next few weeks.
The Houthi forces seized control of the strategic waterway last month after rapidly advancing along Yemen’s Red Sea coast. Riyadh views the loss of Bab al-Mandab as a major strategic concern.
Saudi-led planners are considering two possible approaches, according to Gulf and Yemeni officials. One involves a limited offensive to retake coastal areas around Bab al-Mandab, while the other would involve a broader, coordinated assault across several areas, including Al Bayda, Marib, Taiz and Al Jawf.
Officials involved in the planning said more than 100,000 Yemeni troops could be drawn into the conflict, depending on the scale of the operation.
Bab al-Mandab is a key waterway at the southern end of the Red Sea, through which cargo ships travel between the Mediterranean and Asia. With the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed amid the Iran conflict, the strategic importance of Bab al-Mandab has increased further this year.
Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia believes renewed peace talks with the Houthis would be difficult as long as the group controls Bab al-Mandab. Retaking the strait is therefore being considered one of the key objectives of a potential military operation.
The United States is providing Saudi Arabia with intelligence and military advice, a Western diplomat said. However, it remains unclear whether US forces would participate directly in the fighting. Turkey and Pakistan are also providing Saudi Arabia with military equipment, according to officials familiar with the matter.
Meanwhile, the potential for Houthi drone and missile attacks is a major concern for Riyadh. Saudi Arabia has sought defensive systems from its allies to protect oil facilities and other critical infrastructure.
