Saudi Arabia has struck hard against the Houthi forces! The Houthis probably didn't expect such a fierce response this time. On July 30, according to foreign media reports, Saudi Arabia launched multiple air strikes on Sana'a, the capital of Yemen. Recently, Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi warned that signs indicate Saudis are heading toward full-scale escalation. We will respond with full-scale escalation in kind.
Evidently, this round of Saudi actions differs significantly from their previous attack on the port of Hudaydah. Last time, Saudi strikes could only be seen as tactical warnings; this time, however, the intensity of the attacks has clearly escalated. First, the locations targeted by Saudi strikes are highly sensitive. Saudi forces hit the Houthi command and decision-making center—including the central command headquarters, offices of senior officers, ballistic missile depots, suicide drone assembly plants, ammunition storage facilities, radar stations, and signal interception posts.
Second, the intensity of the strikes has noticeably increased. This round of air raids against the Sana'a region involved multiple waves and continuous operations around the clock. Saudi Arabia deployed F-15SA fighter-bombers and Typhoon aircraft, supported by airborne early warning aircraft for flight guidance, while also using RC-135 electronic reconnaissance planes to conduct electromagnetic suppression. All firepower was concentrated on Sana'a’s core military zones, indicating a well-planned and highly targeted operation. Therefore, the Houthis’ assessment that the Saudis are moving toward full-scale escalation is not baseless.
Naturally, the reason behind Saudi Arabia’s sudden strong move against the Houthis is clear: they’ve been provoked. The Houthis have imposed a Red Sea maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia and subsequently conducted saturation attacks using ballistic missiles and drones targeting two major Aramco oil refineries in Jizan and Yanbu. If left unchecked, the Houthis’ escalating aggression would place Saudi Arabia under constant dual threats along its southern border and across key sea lanes—something Saudi Arabia simply cannot tolerate. Thus, it’s possible that Saudi Arabia aims to degrade the Houthi military capabilities in order to secure the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea passage.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1872156111049728/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.