Saudi Arabia Masses Forces for Possible Ground Push Into Yemen’s al-Bayda – SOFX

Saudi Arabia is preparing a naval offensive and possible ground operation against the Houthis in central Yemen, Yemeni sources told The Guardian, with troop movements pointing to al-Bayda governorate, which the group captured in 2020 and 2021, as the likely objective.

The sources said Saudi forces have pulled back from eastern Yemen in what may be preparation for a ground assault aimed at breaking the Houthi grip on Saudi oil exports through the southern Red Sea. These claims have not been independently verified.

The buildup follows the Houthis’ July 20 maritime blockade on Saudi-linked shipping declared after July 13 strikes on Sanaa International Airport. Houthi forces have since fired ballistic missiles at the tankers Encelia, Layla, and NCC Ghazal, and said on July 25 they struck oil transport sites linking Eastern Province oilfields to a Red Sea export hub.

The naval component is already taking shape. The Saudi Ministry of Defense said on July 30 that 14 countries, including Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, and Qatar, backed a multinational maritime defense alliance to secure the Red Sea, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden. Riyadh has asked the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy to join.

The stakes are acute. Saudi Arabia rerouted roughly 70% of its energy exports through Red Sea terminals after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz earlier this year.

A ground push may not rely on Saudi troops alone. A large force of anti-Houthi Yemeni fighters is assembling in eastern Yemen’s deserts and would advance with Saudi air support, including AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, a regional source told CNN.

Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi said indicators show Riyadh moving toward “comprehensive escalation” and vowed to answer “siege with siege,” according to the Houthi-run SABA news agency.