The Houthis understand that Saudi patience has its limits, and they know full well that it is not endless. They are equally aware that the Kingdom has ample military and political alternatives and options, as well as strong alliances, with the international community standing by its side—from the UN Security Council to the broader international community’s condemnation of blatant Houthi aggression against civilian targets, oil and economic facilities, and innocent civilians. The Houthis believe that their desperate attempts to occupy the port of Mocha, as well as to infiltrate the islands overlooking Bab al-Mandab, and maintain the blockade imposed on oil tankers will serve Iran’s ambitions to close the straits of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab to ships and tankers. This is a misconception, as such actions constitute an obstruction of international navigation and a disruption of the flow of oil to the world. The international community will not stand idly by in the face of attempts to disrupt these strategic waterways. Anyone who believes that closing the Bab al-Mandab Strait can be used as leverage overlooks the fact that the strait is not merely a limited regional issue, but an international artery where global economic interests and energy security converge. Moreover, Houthi control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait would affect the operation of the Suez Canal, a matter of vital importance to the economies of all nations. There is no doubt that the current phase requires the Yemeni legitimate forces to reorganize their ranks and intensify their strikes against the Houthi terrorist militia. This pressure must be reinforced by setting aside minor differences among the various factions that comprise the Yemeni legitimate forces. The battle against the Houthis is not merely a confrontation with a coup militia, but a battle against the Iranian project, which seeks to devour all of Yemen and exploit it in pursuit of its expansionist goals. Standing against the Iranian project is an urgent necessity to unify the ranks of the free Yemeni forces, who are determined to break free from the shackles of the Houthi-Iranian project. Iran aims to encircle the entire Gulf region by closing the Strait of Hormuz and launching drone and ballistic missile attacks, while simultaneously fueling unrest in Arab countries such as Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq. It also incites its proxies and agents in those countries to undermine settlement efforts by fomenting sectarian strife and discord. Saudi Arabia, as affirmed by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, remains committed to keeping the door open for diplomacy, because the region’s problems cannot be resolved through violence and confrontation. Saudi Arabia has demonstrated considerable restraint, exemplified by its decision not to retaliate against the sabotage plot targeting the East-West pipeline from Iraqi territory. This patience, however, should not be mistaken for weakness or leniency. All parties in the region know that Saudi Arabia possesses one of the most heavily armed forces in the region, and that if it chose to employ them according to the logic of force and rapid deterrence, its strikes would be decisive and deterrent. Nevertheless, the Kingdom is prepared to maintain its strategic patience until the prospects for solutions broaden and Iran realizes that continued escalation will place it in confrontation with the entire world. If the Iranian issue is resolved, its proxies will cease their harmful activities and seek peace, however fragile, because they are merely followers and pawns of Tehran. But if Iran continues to hold the fate of the region’s countries hostage to the outcome of its war with the United States, the countries of the region and the world will unite to repel the harm and confront those responsible for it, leaving Iran internationally and regionally isolated. Good faith should be reciprocated. Silence regarding the Houthi militia’s aggression will not last, particularly if Iran does nothing to rein in its proxy militias, foremost among them the Houthi terrorist militia in Yemen and its affiliated Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq. Saudi Arabia does not want a full-scale war in the region or beyond, because war is costly for everyone, indeed for the entire world. Therefore, it has chosen to endure the harm inflicted by schemers, malicious people, and the opportunists—but only for a time, not indefinitely. Certainly, Saudi Arabia has not been a mere bystander in Yemen, and Yemen’s security will never be a marginal issue for it. Yemen’s security is part of Saudi national security, while the security of the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab is part of the security of the entire region. Therefore, Saudi support for Yemen and its legitimate forces is not simply a fleeting political stance, but is instead rooted in precise security and strategic calculations that extend beyond the borders of the two countries.The Houthis understand that Saudi patience has its limits, and they know full well that it is not endless. They are equally aware that the Kingdom has ample military and political alternatives and options, as well as strong alliances, with the international community standing by its side—from the UN Security Council to the broader international community’s condemnation of blatant Houthi aggression against civilian targets, oil and economic facilities, and innocent civilians. The Houthis believe that their desperate attempts to occupy the port of Mocha, as well as to infiltrate the islands overlooking Bab al-Mandab, and maintain the blockade imposed on oil tankers will serve Iran’s ambitions to close the straits of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab to ships and tankers. This is a misconception, as such actions constitute an obstruction of international navigation and a disruption of the flow of oil to the world. The international community will not stand idly by in the face of attempts to disrupt these strategic waterways. Anyone who believes that closing the Bab al-Mandab Strait can be used as leverage overlooks the fact that the strait is not merely a limited regional issue, but an international artery where global economic interests and energy security converge. Moreover, Houthi control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait would affect the operation of the Suez Canal, a matter of vital importance to the economies of all nations. There is no doubt that the current phase requires the Yemeni legitimate forces to reorganize their ranks and intensify their strikes against the Houthi terrorist militia. This pressure must be reinforced by setting aside minor differences among the various factions that comprise the Yemeni legitimate forces. The battle against the Houthis is not merely a confrontation with a coup militia, but a battle against the Iranian project, which seeks to devour all of Yemen and exploit it in pursuit of its expansionist goals. Standing against the Iranian project is an urgent necessity to unify the ranks of the free Yemeni forces, who are determined to break free from the shackles of the Houthi-Iranian project. Iran aims to encircle the entire Gulf region by closing the Strait of Hormuz and launching drone and ballistic missile attacks, while simultaneously fueling unrest in Arab countries such as Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq. It also incites its proxies and agents in those countries to undermine settlement efforts by fomenting sectarian strife and discord. Saudi Arabia, as affirmed by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, remains committed to keeping the door open for diplomacy, because the region’s problems cannot be resolved through violence and confrontation. Saudi Arabia has demonstrated considerable restraint, exemplified by its decision not to retaliate against the sabotage plot targeting the East-West pipeline from Iraqi territory. This patience, however, should not be mistaken for weakness or leniency. All parties in the region know that Saudi Arabia possesses one of the most heavily armed forces in the region, and that if it chose to employ them according to the logic of force and rapid deterrence, its strikes would be decisive and deterrent. Nevertheless, the Kingdom is prepared to maintain its strategic patience until the prospects for solutions broaden and Iran realizes that continued escalation will place it in confrontation with the entire world. If the Iranian issue is resolved, its proxies will cease their harmful activities and seek peace, however fragile, because they are merely followers and pawns of Tehran. But if Iran continues to hold the fate of the region’s countries hostage to the outcome of its war with the United States, the countries of the region and the world will unite to repel the harm and confront those responsible for it, leaving Iran internationally and regionally isolated. Good faith should be reciprocated. Silence regarding the Houthi militia’s aggression will not last, particularly if Iran does nothing to rein in its proxy militias, foremost among them the Houthi terrorist militia in Yemen and its affiliated Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq. Saudi Arabia does not want a full-scale war in the region or beyond, because war is costly for everyone, indeed for the entire world. Therefore, it has chosen to endure the harm inflicted by schemers, malicious people, and the opportunists—but only for a time, not indefinitely. Certainly, Saudi Arabia has not been a mere bystander in Yemen, and Yemen’s security will never be a marginal issue for it. Yemen’s security is part of Saudi national security, while the security of the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab is part of the security of the entire region. Therefore, Saudi support for Yemen and its legitimate forces is not simply a fleeting political stance, but is instead rooted in precise security and strategic calculations that extend beyond the borders of the two countries.
