US Deal with Houthi Militia Leaves Saudi Arabia in Quicksand

Saudi Arabia is struggling to combat the resurgent Ansar Allah militia in Yemen, while its principal ally, the US, may have cut a deal with the Iran-backed group.

The Houthis launched a surprise offensive last week that saw them blitz across Yemen's Red Sea coast and take control of several islands along the Bab el-Mandeb strait, one of Riyadh's key oil export routes.

The US and Houthis have reportedly engaged in direct outreach, potentially reshaping the dynamics of the conflict in Yemen. Nabeel Khoury, a former US deputy ambassador to Yemen, told The Guardian that there appears to be a 'kind of tacit understanding' between the Trump administration and the Houthis following a meeting in Oman.

The US had previously launched bombing campaigns against the Houthis, but now seems to have accepted some form of understanding with Ansar Allah. This development could have serious implications for Saudi Arabia, which may increasingly find itself having to confront the Houthis largely on its own.