Saudi Arabia is preparing a major military offensive against Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen to reclaim control of the Bab el-Mandeb strait and restore crucial Red Sea shipping routes, according to regional and Western officials.
The operation expected within weeks will be led by Saudi-backed Yemeni ground forces potentially mobilizing over 100,000 troops supported by Saudi airstrikes and US intelligence. Saudi officials are considering a targeted attack along the Red Sea coast or a broader multi-front assault across central and northern Yemen.
The planned offensive follows recent Houthi advances that seized control of the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a vital maritime corridor linking the Mediterranean Sea to Asia. The waterway has grown increasingly critical amid ongoing regional conflict surrounding Iran that has disrupted global maritime traffic.
Riyadh concluded that peace negotiations cannot proceed while Houthis hold the strategic chokehold also granting the group significant leverage over international trade.
While Washington is providing intelligence and targeting support, US President Donald Trump rejected requests for direct American combat strikes. Meanwhile the regional allies Turkey and Pakistan have supplied defensive military hardware, air defense systems and technical advisers to support Saudi operations.
Key challenges remain including protecting Saudi infrastructure from retaliatory Houthi drone and missile strikes as well as coordinating fractured Yemeni ground factions. However, analysts note the immediate objective is a focused operation to clear coastal areas and restore safe passage for global commercial shipping.
