Saudi Arabia Prepares Large-Scale Operation Against Houthis Amid Growing Oil Threats

Saudi Arabia is gearing up for a major military operation against the Houthis in Yemen, which may involve naval operations and a possible ground offensive. According to Yemeni sources, troops are concentrating near the province of Al-Bayda, which the Houthis captured in 2020-2021.

The move comes as Riyadh announced the formation of an international maritime coalition to protect shipping and energy routes in the Red Sea, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden. Fourteen countries have already expressed support for the initiative, including Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, Sudan, and Djibouti.

The United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy have also been invited to participate in the coalition, which aims to counter threats to oil exports. The Houthis recently announced a naval blockade of ships linked to Saudi Arabia and claimed to have carried out attacks on oil tankers and infrastructure.