Refinitiv cited regional and Western officials saying Saudi Arabia is planning a military operation to break Iran-backed Houthi control of Red Sea shipping lanes. Riyadh is weighing either a limited offensive around the Bab al-Mandeb strait or a multi-front campaign across Bayda, Marib, Taiz and al-Jawf; action is expected in the coming weeks. Saudi-backed Yemeni ground forces would lead the operation with Saudi air support, and officials say more than 100,000 Yemeni troops could be mobilised de

Refinitiv cited regional and Western officials saying Saudi Arabia is planning a military operation to break Iran-backed Houthi control of Red Sea shipping lanes. Riyadh is weighing either a limited offensive around the Bab al-Mandeb strait or a multi-front campaign across Bayda, Marib, Taiz and al-Jawf; action is expected in the coming weeks. Saudi-backed Yemeni ground forces would lead the operation with Saudi air support, and officials say more than 100,000 Yemeni troops could be mobilised depending on scale. The reported move follows Houthi coastal advances last month and their takeover of the Bab al-Mandeb, which Saudi officials say has stalled prospects for renewed peace talks. The US is providing intelligence and targeting support but is not expected to take part directly; Turkey and Pakistan have supplied air-defence systems and drones. Sources flagged key operational risks: integrating fragmented anti-Houthi factions previously backed by Saudi and the UAE, and exposure to Houthi missile and UAV strikes on Saudi oil infrastructure.