Saudi Arabia Readies Major Offensive Against Yemen's Houthi Terrorists
Saudi Arabia is reportedly preparing to launch a large-scale offensive against Yemen's Houthi terrorists, according to sources in the British Guardian. The military preparations include recent local withdrawals in eastern Yemen and the establishment of a multinational maritime defense coalition with 13 countries.
The coalition, announced by Saudi's Ministry of Defense on Thursday, aims to protect shipping in the Bab al-Mandab Strait from threats, and its members share a 'conviction that maritime security is a shared responsibility.' The reported preparations for an offensive come amid rising tensions in the southern Arabian Peninsula, with the Houthis firing ballistic missiles at Saudi Arabia earlier this month.
The Houthi movement has been expanding ties with Somalia's government, and has declared its own naval blockade targeting Saudi Arabia. This move has prompted shipping companies and naval authorities to reassess security risks in the critical Bab el-Mandeb strait, which threatens to cripple Saudi exports if closed.
The Houthis have launched attacks on ships and infrastructure belonging to the state oil company Aramco, and after some of these drone strikes were launched from Iraqi territory in coordination with Iranian-backed proxy militias, Saudi Arabia carried out strikes against targets in Iraq this week.