Saudi Arabia · Iran · Donald Trump · Axios
Yemeni and Saudi forces launch counteroffensive against the Houthis
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Yemeni government forces backed by Saudi Arabia launched a counteroffensive against the Houthis on Sunday in an effort to win back territory from the rebel group, the head of Yemen's presidential council said in a speech.
Key facts
- The intrigue: President Trump is caught between wanting to help Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, his friend and ally, and avoiding getting entangled in a new front in the Middle East
- The counteroffensive has been planned for many weeks by Yemen's internationally recognized government and Saudi Arabia
- On Friday, Trump's top cabinet members huddled for hours at Camp David to discuss next steps in the Iran war and the conflict in Yemen, Axios first reported
- Yemeni government forces backed by Saudi Arabia launched a counteroffensive against the Houthis on Sunday in an effort to win back territory from the rebel group, the head of Yemen's presidential
Summary
"We have exhausted all opportunities for deescalation with the Houthi militias," Rashad al-Alimi said. One of the key objectives of the operation is to regain control over the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a vital artery for global trade and Saudi oil exports. When the Houthis took over territory on the Red Sea coast close to the strait, it gave them, and Iran, which backs them, powerful leverage over the U.S., its Gulf allies and the world economy. Despite pleas from Saudi Arabia, the U.S. is not getting involved in direct combat against the Houthis for now.