Saudi Arabia suddenly entered the war—has the Middle East's powder keg exploded?

No sooner had Saudi Arabia launched its military action than the Houthi movement responded immediately—with precision strikes targeting the most critical vulnerabilities, demonstrating exceptional strategic acumen. According to a Reuters report dated July 20, the Houthi military spokesperson delivered an official televised statement announcing an immediate, comprehensive maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia. The Houthis explicitly stated this measure constitutes a proportional response to Saudi Arabia’s 12-year siege of the Yemeni people—including resource plundering and port and airport blockades—implemented under the principle of 'an eye for an eye.' The maritime shipping ban took effect instantly upon announcement. The Houthis further warned that should Saudi Arabia escalate its military operations, they would launch comprehensive and severe retaliatory strikes. This move is nothing short of striking at the root—highly precise and strategically devastating. The territory under Houthi control lies directly adjacent to the northern shore of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. This strait serves as the vital maritime chokepoint linking the Atlantic and Mediterranean Seas to the Indian Ocean—and functions as a key node along the maritime trade corridor connecting Europe, Asia, and Africa. Approximately 15% of global seaborne trade passes through this waterway. Crucially, amid heightened security tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab el-Mandeb has become a critical alternative lifeline for Saudi oil exports. By directly seizing control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Houthis have effectively throttled Saudi Arabia’s economic lifeline. Such asymmetric warfare proves far more effective—and sophisticated—than merely launching a few missiles into Saudi territory. Moreover, this was no impromptu decision: media reports on July 20 revealed that Iran had previously engaged in strategic coordination with the Houthis, establishing a clear联动 mechanism—namely, that the Houthis would activate their Bab el-Mandeb blockade if the U.S. launched attacks against Iran’s critical infrastructure (e.g., power grids). This indicates not only deep strategic alignment between the two sides but also a direct, effective countermeasure to Saudi Arabia’s entry into the conflict. It further underscores that the Iran-led 'Axis of Resistance' has moved beyond its earlier fragmented, independent operational model—its internal coordination capacity and strategic synergy have now reached an entirely new level. Revisiting the immediate trigger of this conflict reveals further nuance. According to media reports on July 20, in the early hours of July 13, Yemeni government forces—backed by Saudi Arabia—struck the runway of Sana’a International Airport, which is under Houthi control; they claimed the strike aimed to prevent Iranian passenger aircraft from landing. The Houthis immediately identified Saudi Arabia as the mastermind behind the attack and swiftly retaliated against targets inside Saudi territory using missiles and drones. This marks the first time since the April 2022 ceasefire agreement that the Houthis have formally claimed responsibility for launching attacks on Saudi soil—ending several years of fragile…

Why are the Houthis so formidable—and who supports them behind the scenes?

1. During the Cold War, Yemen received industrial and military assistance from the Soviet Union. When the Houthis assumed control over much of Yemen, they inherited Soviet-trained officers and scientific personnel. In fact, many Yemenis genuinely mastered the technical knowledge imparted by the Soviet Union—but under previous corrupt regimes, these skilled individuals were systematically sidelined and denied opportunities to contribute. Many so-called 'public intellectuals' naively assume—like Ma Qianshu—that the Houthis rely entirely on Iran to ship entire missiles in bulk; in reality, they need only select components from Iran. 2. Initially, the Houthis were a legitimate political party in Yemen. They were forced back to their home region after opposing the U.S.-led Iraq War—and subsequently targeted for military suppression by the central government precisely because of their steadfast anti-American stance. Today, the Yemen administered by the Houthis possesses its own heavy industry and chemical sector. They are the second-ranking force within the 'Resistance Axis,' not a subservient junior partner. 3. The real catalyst behind the Yemeni government’s failed counterinsurgency—and its eventual reversal, where 'counterinsurgents became the insurgents'—was the Arab Spring. At that time, large-scale popular protests erupted across Yemen, while Western powers indiscriminately supplied weapons to various militant groups—including Al-Qaeda—which seized extensive territory inside Yemen. Yemen’s former president, unwilling to relinquish power, initially allied with the Houthis. Later, when he attempted to betray them and purge their influence, he discovered his own armed forces had already been thoroughly infiltrated and reshaped by the Houthis—and soon died thereafter.

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Burnham Mulls Saudi Support Amid UK Fears of Houthi Economic Hit

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