How Saudi Arabia's anti-Houthi strategy crashed and burned

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1. 1h ago

   Saudi Anti-Houthi Strategy Fails as Militants Expand Red Sea Control

   Saudi Arabia's military strategy to defeat the Houthis has failed, leaving the group stronger and in control of critical Red Sea shipping lanes. Despite years of war, the Houthis have evolved from a small mountain militia into a regional threat capable of disrupting global trade. Yemeni soldiers currently face Houthi advances on multiple fronts. While some analysts suggest a Houthi defeat is still possible, others argue the conflict has become a strategic nightmare for the Saudi leadership, mirroring a prolonged war of attrition.

   Why it matters

   The conflict began as a domestic Yemeni struggle but expanded into a proxy war involving Saudi Arabia and Iran. Control of the Red Sea is vital for global energy and goods transport. The failure of the Saudi campaign has shifted the regional balance of power toward the Houthis.

   What is confirmed

   • The Houthis have transitioned from a small mountain militia to a regional threat.
   • Houthi forces have increased their control over the Red Sea.
   • The Houthi group has grown stronger throughout the years of war.

   Still unconfirmed

   • The conflict in Yemen could become Saudi Arabia's Vietnam.

   What to watch next

   • Outcome of current Houthi advances on multiple Yemeni fronts
   • Changes in U.S. policy toward Yemen under a potential Trump administration
   Sources used for this update (15)

   1. The Free Press — Houthi Defeat Is Closer Than We Think
   2. AP News — Why Yemen’s Houthis have only grown stronger through years of war
   3. The Conversation — The Houthis have further tightened their grip on the Red Sea. Here’s what it could mean for the world
   4. The New York Times — Geography Is Power
   5. Al Jazeera — Iran war live: Yemeni soldiers battling Houthi advances on several fronts
   6. Responsible Statecraft — How Saudi Arabia's anti-Houthi strategy crashed and burned
   7. Reuters — How Yemen's Houthis went from a small mountain militia to a big regional threat
   8. The American Prospect — Aftermath: A Second Middle East Front
   9. WSJ — Opinion | How Trump Can Solve His Yemen Problem
   10. RealClearWorld — Time for MBS to Finish Off the Houthis
   11. NDTV — Opinion | Saudi Arabia's Yemen Nightmare Has Come Back To Haunt It
   12. UnHerd — Can anyone stop the Houthis? Yemen’s civil war is set to go global
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