Saudi Arabia and allied Yemeni forces are preparing a major military campaign to reclaim the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait from Houthi control. The planned operation, expected within weeks, aims to secure critical Red Sea shipping lanes as regional tensions continue to escalate following recent armed clashes.
Military planners in Riyadh are actively weighing two distinct operational pathways for the upcoming campaign, according to regional and diplomatic sources familiar with the preparations. The first option focuses heavily on a concentrated, limited offensive directly around the Bab el-Mandeb coastal corridor. The second entails a much wider multi-front assault spanning several provinces simultaneously, including al-Bayda, Marib, Taiz, and al-Jawf.
Strategic Importance of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait
The waterway serves as the southern exit of the Red Sea and a vital maritime corridor connecting the Mediterranean Sea to Asia. Its geopolitical weight has surged even higher since alternative routes like the Strait of Hormuz faced effective closure amid ongoing regional conflicts involving Iran. Control over this maritime bottleneck grants the Houthi movement immense leverage over international commerce, a reality that has pushed Riyadh to conclude that peace negotiations remain blocked as long as the group holds the coast.
The current push follows a sharp breakdown in a fragile military stalemate that had largely held since a 2022 truce. Last month, Houthi forces advanced along the coast and captured ground near the strait, prompting renewed fighting across multiple fronts. Ground operations will rely primarily on Yemeni forces operating under Saudi supervision, backed by targeted airstrikes provided by the kingdom.
Yemeni Offensive Could Mobilize 100,000 Service Members
Depending on the final scope chosen by commanders, the offensive could mobilize upwards of 100,000 Yemeni service members. While Western allies are providing intelligence and operational advisory support, direct combat participation from Western powers is not anticipated. At the same time, regional partners are bolstering defensive capabilities to shield infrastructure from potential retaliatory strikes.
Diplomatic sources note that Pakistan and Turkey recently signed defense agreements with Saudi Arabia, facilitating the transfer of military equipment including air defense systems, light artillery, and anti-drone technology. Islamabad has already deployed tens of thousands of personnel to secure Saudi land borders and intercept incoming projectiles, though Pakistani authorities have not yet decided to commit ground troops directly into Yemen.
Humanitarian Toll and Airstrikes Across Yemen
On the ground, the intensification of hostilities has already exacted a heavy civilian toll. According to United Nations figures cited by international coverage, recent fighting has displaced more than 150,000 people over the past few weeks, while total fatalities since the latest escalation crossed 800. In Taiz, heavy artillery and fierce clashes have damaged local infrastructure and closed essential roads.
Aerial bombardment has simultaneously targeted the Houthi-controlled capital of Sanaa. Media outlets aligned with the Houthi movement reported numerous airstrikes hitting military installations, including the Hafa and al-Nahdaoin army camps. Analysts caution that while the impending offensive aims to restore the status quo ante along the coastline, the loose coordination among anti-Houthi factions could complicate sustained military operations as the region teeters on the brink of renewed all-out war.
