Abdul-Malik al-Houthi warns Saudi Arabia of full escalation as new maritime defense coalition forms
Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the leader of Yemen's Houthi movement, has threatened Saudi Arabia with a "full escalation" of conflict following recent maritime and ground military actions. The Houthi leader warned that Riyadh's move toward full escalation would be met with a full response, accusing the Saudi-led coalition of causing a deliberate cycle of economic and political crisis in Yemen since 2015. In response to the Houthi maritime campaign, Saudi Arabia hosted a meeting where 43 countries and the EU discussed the creation of a new Multinational Maritime Defence Coalition. Fourteen countries, including Pakistan and Turkey, signed a founding statement to protect navigation through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea. While the Houthis maintain a strong military presence in Yemen's northwest, analysts suggest the strategic environment is shifting. The Yemeni government is becoming more unified and supported by a Saudi-led coalition, while an anti-Houthi tribal alliance in al-Jawf has emerged. Despite these shifts, the Houthis remain a powerful actor with over 200,000 fighters and significant missile and drone capabilities.