The confrontation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis in Yemen is heading towards a more extensive phase, after the two sides exchanged strikes in light of Houthi attacks with missiles and drones on bases and facilities inside the Kingdom, in exchange for intense Saudi raids, while a remarkable development emerged with talk of the possibility of Pakistan entering the line of operations at the request of Riyadh.
The military spokesman for the Houthis, Yahya Saree, said that the group carried out a joint air operation targeting Saudi military bases, in response to the recent escalation and bombing that targeted the central prison in Al-Jawf Governorate and left dozens dead and wounded, including women and children, he said. He added that the targeted bases were used to carry out about 120 raids on Yemeni territory.
In a notable development, Turkey Today newspaper quoted informed Pakistani sources as saying that Pakistan may, at the request of Saudi Arabia, carry out air strikes against the Houthis in the coming days. Another source reported that removing the Houthis from Saada Governorate in northern Yemen, which is adjacent to the Saudi border, may be one of the possible military objectives.
In parallel, Sarie announced the targeting of Aramco facilities in 3 locations, in addition to the “Economic City” in the south of the Kingdom, using dozens of ballistic missiles and drones, claiming to have hit the targets and caused significant damage to them. He also vowed to continue strikes deep into Saudi Arabia within what he described as the “siege for siege” equation, until the attack stops and the siege on Yemen is lifted.
On the ground, the report stated that the Houthis advanced near the Bab al-Mandab Strait and took control of dozens of military sites belonging to factions loyal to Saudi Arabia, while local sources said that Saudi aircraft launched a series of raids in an attempt to stop this advance.
The Saudi Ministry of Energy announced the temporary suspension of part of operations after a number of energy facilities and infrastructure were damaged in the south of the Kingdom. Saudi coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said that the attacks coming from Yemen resulted in the injury of 73 civilians, including women and children, vowing to take “measures to deter the Houthis.”
On the other hand, Al-Akhbar newspaper quoted a Houthi military source as saying that the group has “an extensive target bank deep inside Saudi Arabia,” claiming that Aramco facilities will be vulnerable to new attacks, and that what happened was nothing but “the first wave of missiles,” while denying the Saudi narrative regarding civilian casualties.
Washington entered the escalation line, as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that there are “Iranian hands in some attacks on Saudi Arabia,” considering the Houthis as agents of Iran, and stressing that his country is following developments in light of its strong security relations with Riyadh.
In Yemen, Assistant Minister of Defense Major General Samir Sabri announced that “the decision to liberate the regions of Yemen from the Houthis has been taken, and its implementation has actually begun,” considering that the battle is no longer confined to the Sahel front, but rather has become collective in light of an international position harmed by the Houthis.
However, an expert who spoke to “Erm News” believed that the escalation may remain gradual, with the aim of improving the conditions for negotiation, achieving field gains, and occupying the Houthis’ capabilities away from navigation routes, warning that expanding the confrontation without the ability to resolve it may give the Houthis a new opportunity to threaten navigation and neighboring countries.
Thus, the scene remains open between the possibility of a broad strike targeting the Houthi influence in Yemen, or an additional round to improve the positions before returning to the negotiating table.
