As Saudi Arabia rallies against Yemen's Houthis, US stays focused on Iran
WASHINGTON – As Saudi Arabia gears up to head off any attempt by Yemen’s Houthi rebels to close the Bab al-Mandeb Strait through further attacks on commercial shipping, the Trump administration remains focused on maintaining the blockade of Iran, officials said Friday.
Saudi Arabia seeks to deter aggression and safeguard its economic objectives through strategic alliances, despite limited success thus far. The kingdom faces attacks from Iran, Iraq, Yemen's Houthis and their regional allies, prompting efforts to form a defensive coalition in the Red Sea and strengthen ties with Turkey and Pakistan.
However, these initiatives have yet to prevent attacks and analysts warn of potential entanglement in a broader regional conflict. Saudi Arabia's dilemma lies in balancing deterrence with restraint, as its enemies perceive its desire for peace as acceptance of being targeted.
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- Saudi Arabia bets on defensive alliances to deter slide into war dailymaverick.co.za
- Saudi Arabia announces start of Red Sea defence alliance: Will it work? aljazeera.com
