Saudi Arabia launches campaign against Houthi militia in Yemen

Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia is a Gulf kingdom with extensive regional influence and a history of leading coalitions in the Middle East. In the current context, it is providing air and operational support to Yemeni government forces launching Operation Dawn of Yemen against the Houthis. This backing aligns with Saudi efforts to secure maritime routes and respond to Houthi attacks on its territory. Houthi militia: The Houthi militia, or Ansar Allah, is an armed group that controls significant territory in Yemen and receives backing from Iran. It is the primary target of the recent Saudi-supported counteroffensive, including strikes near the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The group has responded to the campaign with missile and drone attacks on Saudi sites. • The offensive is led by Yemen’s internationally recognized government under Presidential Leadership Council chairman Rashad al-Alimi, with Saudi-led coalition air and operational support. • Government-aligned forces reported recapturing Mokha, Dhubab, and positions near Bab el-Mandeb, a vital maritime chokepoint linking the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. • Saudi coalition officials said roughly 100 aircraft supported the campaign and reported hundreds of strikes against Houthi targets. • The Houthis retain control over much of northern and western Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa, and have denied losing the reported territory. • Defeating the Houthis is difficult because they remain entrenched, experienced, heavily armed, and supported by Iran, while Yemen’s anti-Houthi camp is politically and militarily fragmented. • The renewed fighting threatens regional escalation and shipping through Bab el-Mandeb, with potential implications for Red Sea security and energy markets.