Saudi Arabia's military struggle against Houthi attacks

Saudi Arabia's military struggle against Houthi attacks

The full report

Houthi attacks on airports and energy facilities are putting Saudi Arabia under pressure. The Iran-aligned Houthi militia continues to escalate its attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting energy facilities but, above all, airports.

According to a report by the US think tank American Enterprise Institute, Saudi Arabia is targeting Houthi missile launch pads, storage facilities, and other military infrastructure in Yemen. The institute quotes Saudi military spokesman Turki al-Maliki in its October 11 report as saying that 136 military targets have already been destroyed.

However, years of Saudi-led military intervention between 2015 and 2022 in Yemen have not succeeded in defeating the Houthi militia. The Saudi-led international coalition formed in 2015 has fallen apart, and the United Arab Emirates has withdrawn its troops.

The Iran-aligned Houthis not only control large parts of northern Yemen but also increasingly the western coastline from where they disrupt international shipping through the Red Sea and the strategically important Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

In early September, drones severely damaged the Saudi East-West oil pipeline, disrupting oil exports and increasing risks for the energy markets. The Saudi government has been seeking allies in the fight against the Houthi militia, with the United Kingdom and France pledging military support to defend Saudi infrastructure.

However, while the US recently refused to fight alongside Saudi Arabia against the Houthis, there could now be a change of heart in Washington. Political analyst Osamah Al-Rawhani notes that it remains to be seen whether this could actually lead to a successful offensive, as holding on to captured territories and launching counterattacks require significant financial resources, political commitment, and the necessary resolve.