Saudi Arabia faces Houthi threat as allies decline direct intervention

Saudi Arabia is facing a resurgent Houthi threat despite its vast military spending and advanced weaponry, with the Iran-backed group launching a missile attack on the capital Riyadh and seizing control of Yemen's entire Red Sea coast. The escalation has disrupted oil supplies and raised concerns about global energy security, while key allies have so far declined to intervene directly. The Houthis launched a missile attack on Riyadh, with Saudi authorities confirming the incident. The group has also seized control of Yemen's entire Red Sea coast overlooking the strategically vital Bab al-Mandab strait, effectively blockading Saudi oil exports. These actions represent a significant escalation in the long-running conflict. Despite possessing a modern military equipped with American F-15 fighter jets and other advanced systems, Saudi Arabia has struggled to contain the Houthi campaign. Experts attribute this to the kingdom's reliance on ineffective proxies on the ground, while the Houthis have leveraged rugged terrain, tribal bonds, and Iranian support to build formidable defenses.