The clash between U.S. forces and Iran is rapidly escalating, while Saudi Arabia has also taken major actions—Iran should be on high alert! In response to the Houthi rebels in Yemen claiming they would block Saudi maritime trade, on July 20, the spokesperson for the Saudi-led multinational coalition, Maliki, issued a statement saying that the coalition headquarters has begun taking measures to ensure the safe passage of member states' vessels through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and will respond "swiftly and resolutely" to any threats posed by the Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Currently, Saudi Arabia and the Houthis are mutually accusing each other over recent attacks. Saudi Arabia accuses the Houthis of attacking its airports, while the Houthis accuse Saudi Arabia of bombing airports in Yemen. Both sides have broken the ceasefire agreement that had been maintained since 2022, reigniting hostilities. Moreover, this time it was Saudi military forces who launched air strikes first against airports controlled by the Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Therefore, this situation is far from simple—it may very well signal a shift in Saudi Arabia’s stance toward Iran. It can be said that the United States and Israel have once again achieved a significant success in dividing Sunni and Shia factions.

We all know that the Houthi rebels in Yemen are backed by Iran, and Iran is currently engaged in intense conflict with U.S. forces. At this moment, Saudi Arabia suddenly launches an offensive against the Houthis—the core ally of Iran—giving the impression of cooperating with the U.S.-led effort to encircle and counter Shia armed groups.

It remains unclear what Saudi Arabia's true intentions are. However, recently U.S. media reported that Saudi Arabia is about to sign a nuclear energy cooperation agreement with the United States. Compared to the stringent nuclear demands placed on Iran by the U.S., this agreement appears extremely lenient. Thus, it cannot be ruled out that behind-the-scenes interests exchange agreements have been reached between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1871291784722568/

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