Saudi Arabia Prepares to Launch Military Operation Against Houthi Rebels

Saudi Arabia is planning to launch a military operation against Houthi rebels in Yemen, according to a Reuters report. The goal of the operation is to secure control of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.

The Houthis have been strengthening their hold on the area, pushing back Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces and the UAE-backed National Resistance Forces. The Bab al-Mandeb Strait is a crucial route for global trade and oil supplies, with 12% of the world's oil passing through it.

Saudi Arabia fears that if the Houthis retain control, the threat to trade and oil shipments through this route could increase. To address this, Saudi Arabia has two options: a limited strike around Bab al-Mandeb or simultaneous operations in several parts of Yemen, led by Yemeni forces with support from Saudi Arabia.

The operation would mobilize more than 1 lakh Yemeni soldiers, but the timeline for the military action remains unclear. The United States is providing Saudi Arabia with intelligence and assistance, but US President Donald Trump has not agreed to direct military assistance and air strikes.