Saudi Arabia is gearing up for a significant military offensive against Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen, targeting vital shipping routes in the Red Sea. With ground forces prepared to mobilize over 100,000 troops, the operation seeks to reclaim territory lost to the Houthis and reassert control over the region.
On August 11, an attack by Iran-backed Houthi forces on the cargo ship Tihamah resulted in the deaths of four crew members, including three Pakistanis and one Indonesian. The incident occurred in the Bab el-Mandeb strait, marking a significant escalation amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and maritime threats in the region.
The Iran-backed Houthis have escalated tensions by attacking a fourth Saudi-linked tanker, the NCC GHAZAL, with ballistic missiles for allegedly breaching their maritime ban. The attack, which forced the vessel to retreat, underscores a growing risk to commercial shipping in the Red Sea amid the Houthis’ maritime blockade strategy.
