REUTERS
Saudi Arabia is reportedly gearing up for a major assault on the Iran-backed Houthis, as fears of a widening war in the Middle East heighten.
The Kingdom is preparing for a naval and possible ground invasion against the terror group in order to break open its stranglehold on vital shipping routes in the Red Sea.
Saudi forces have withdrawn from Eastern Yemen in what could be the beginning stages of a possible invasion in the country’s southern region, The Guardian reported.
The Sunni Gulf State has also established a maritime coalition to protect against renewed Houthi attacks in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, where the terror group has imposed a blockade on Saudi ships.
The moves come as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged President Trump Saturday not to go through with planned strikes on Iran, according to a report in Axios.
The two countries teamed up to strike Iran-backed Iraqi militias Tuesday, but the Saudi royal is reportedly weary of further escalation in the Islamic Republic.
The Houthis, whose slogan is “God is great, Death to America, Death to Israel, A curse upon the Jews, Victory for Islam,” has attacked Saudi ships in the Red Sea — a critical shipping lane for Saudi Arabia — and also targeted oil infrastructure inside the country.
The waterway has become increasingly critical with the Strait of Hormuz ensnared in dueling Iranian and US embargos as a result of the ongoing war.
Over 80% of the Saudis’ crude oil exports were previously shipped through Hormuz, but now about half of that transits the Red Sea.
Losing access to Bab al-Mandab also poses a major shipping obstacle for the kingdom, as it would require them to divert ships to a path through Africa in order to reach Asia — turning a normally 16-day-trip into a 50-day trek.
Thirteen countries, including non-Houthi-occupied Yemen, have joined the naval alliance with the Saudis and issued a joint statement Thursday vowing to ensure freedom of navigation in Bab al-Mandab.
Source: https://nypost.com/2026/08/01/world-news/saudi-arabia-gearing-up-for-major-assault-on-houthis/