According to CNN Arabic, a source familiar with Saudi Arabia's thinking said on Tuesday that Saudi Arabia is planning retaliation following the Houthi attacks on Saudi territory in Yemen and has informed its allies of its plans. The source explained that Saudi diplomats informed US lawmakers in August that political communication channels with the Houthis had broken down and that the Houthis planned to escalate their actions against Saudi Arabia and were seeking Washington's support in countering the Houthis. Referring to US Central Command, the source said, "The Saudi side has agreed with Central Command on the next steps and has also notified its European partners." He added that this retaliation "has always been an option when the Houthis launch attacks." The form or intensity of this response remains unclear. The source noted that Saudi Arabia is also working to involve other countries in its efforts to counter the Houthis, some of which had previously worried that such a move would be seen as joining a war between the US and Iran. The source also mentioned, "The partnership built through the naval alliance is both to deter such incidents and to prepare for them."
