Houthis' Shocking Advance Exposes Saudi Arabia's Military Weakness

Recently, Saudi Arabia's Houthi problem reached new heights when the Iranian-backed movement captured significant territory along Yemen's Red Sea coast and around the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The Houthis had amassed over 100,000 fighters for this offensive, which caught the Saudis off guard.

The Saudi government is now seeking American military assistance to counter the Houthi threat. President Donald Trump was initially hesitant but later reportedly instructed the Pentagon to prepare strikes against the Houthis before eventually calling them off.

So, why does Saudi Arabia need US help in fighting the Houthis? The country has significant oil wealth and one of the largest defense budgets in the world. However, despite its advanced military equipment, the Saudi armed forces have struggled to translate technology into battlefield success.