Houthi Victory Exposes Saudi Weakness as Iran Gains Upper Hand
A devastating Houthi offensive has left Saudi Arabia exposed and Iran emboldened. The capture of ground overlooking the Bab el-Mandeb Strait has been described as the kingdom's gravest setback in years, with intelligence failures, the collapse of Yemeni allies, and the limits of US protection all contributing to the defeat.
The Houthi advance along the Red Sea coast and the capture of islands at the mouth of the strait have put global oil supplies at risk. Senior officials say deep divisions among anti-Houthi factions, an untested Saudi-led command structure, limited air support, and an underestimation of Houthi preparations all contributed to the outcome.
The Houthis now hold a sizeable cache of advanced US- and Saudi-supplied weaponry abandoned during the retreat. This haul is likely to bolster their military capabilities, provide valuable intelligence on adversaries' equipment, and further reinforce perceptions of a humiliating Saudi defeat.