AXIOS (Barak Ravid) - Saudis plan major offensive against the Houthis, but U.S. won't join for now
Saudi Arabia and Yemeni government forces are planning a major counteroffensive against Iran-backed Houthis in the coming days — an effort to push them away from areas on the Red Sea coast that control the Strait of Bab al-Mandeb, two U.S. officials say. Why it matters: For the second time in recent weeks, the U.S. rebuffed Saudi pleas to join the operation and conduct airstrikes. But U.S. officials say that could change if the operation runs into problems. - The Bab al-Mandeb Strait is a vital artery for global trade and Saudi oil exports. Control over it gives the Houthis and their Iranian backer a powerful new point of leverage over the U.S., its Gulf allies and the world economy. Driving the news: In recent weeks, the Houthis took…
What was the nature of the communication between Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid Bin Salman and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth?
On a Thursday, Prince Khalid Bin Salman called Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to brief him on the planned operation and to request U.S. airstrikes against Houthi targets.
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Why did the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) have reservations about launching strikes in Yemen?
According to a U.S. official, CENTCOM saw launching strikes in Yemen as a distraction from its primary focus on Iran.
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What was the outcome of the request from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) to President Trump regarding strikes on the Houthis?
Last week, President Trump was close to ordering a strike on the Houthis following a request from MBS, but he ultimately decided to hold off.
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How has the Houthi movement impacted the security of Saudi Arabia and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait?
The Houthis have taken over key areas of the southern Red Sea coast that control the strait and have increased missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia, providing them and their Iranian backers with leverage over the U.S., Gulf allies, and the world economy.
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What specific military support is the United States providing to Saudi Arabia regarding the Houthi conflict, despite not engaging in direct combat?
The U.S. military is assisting with intelligence and targeting data; specifically, in the last two weeks, one U.S. official stated the military provided the Saudis with more than 200 Houthi targets to strike.
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What are the objectives of the planned counteroffensive by Saudi Arabia and Yemeni government forces against the Houthis?
The goal is to push the Iran-backed Houthis away from areas on the Red Sea coast that control the Strait of Bab al-Mandeb, which is a vital artery for global trade and Saudi oil exports.
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