🔶 The Guardian: Saudi Arabia is preparing a naval and possibly ground attack against the Houthis

🔶 The Guardian: Saudi Arabia is preparing a naval and possibly ground attack against the Houthis

The British newspaper The Guardian, citing Yemeni sources, reports that Saudi Arabia is preparing for a potentially large-scale attack against the Houthis in central Yemen.

According to these sources, Saudi forces have been seen withdrawing from eastern Yemen, an action that could be a prelude to a ground offensive. At the same time, Riyadh is trying to organize a naval coalition to protect shipping against Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

On Thursday, July 30, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense announced that 14 countries, including Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, Sudan, and Djibouti, have issued a joint statement in support of a multinational naval defense coalition.

The Houthis, who control Sana’a, Yemen’s capital, and much of the Red Sea coastline, and are supported by the Iranian government, had announced on July 20 that they would implement a blockade against Saudi ships.

The group says it will lift the blockade only when Saudi Arabia ends its blockade of Yemen.