Saudi Arabia facing growing pressure on multiple fronts as Houthis escalate in Yemen

Saudi Arabia is experiencing mounting pressure from various fronts due to the escalating activities of the Houthis in Yemen and Iran's growing influence, according to a source familiar with the Saudi government. The kingdom finds itself surrounded by threats from the south, north, and east, with the Houthis and Iran-backed Hashd al-Shaabi in Iraq posing significant security concerns.

At the same time, Iran represents a unique threat, as Riyadh fears that a direct confrontation could put critical infrastructure, including desalination facilities, at risk of Iranian missile and drone attacks. This has led to a marked shift in Saudi Arabia's approach towards its adversaries.

While Riyadh has opted for negotiation and mediation with Iran due to concerns over potential consequences, it has taken a more aggressive stance against the Houthis. Saudi Arabia is supporting anti-Houthi forces in Yemen while providing air support. However, the kingdom's initial hesitation to deploy air power more aggressively allowed the Houthis to make substantial gains along Yemen's Red Sea coast.

The flat terrain of the Tihamah coastal plain made it particularly vulnerable to air attacks, and Riyadh's lack of aggressive use of air power gave the Houthis the 24 hours needed to consolidate their position and capture the entire coastal area.

The Saudi government is now relying more on air power, which has helped prevent the Houthis from advancing further eastward. This shift in strategy has reportedly disappointed Saudi forces led by Tariq Saleh, who were initially supported by the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Riyadh appears to be disappointed with the performance of these forces, which were trained, funded, and armed by Gulf states but failed to stop the Houthi advance.

Despite the growing pressure, Saudi Arabia remains pragmatic in its foreign and security policy. The kingdom has reportedly sought greater assistance from Israel in dealing with the Houthis, with CENTCOM mediating the sharing of intelligence on the group. While there are concerns about the nature and severity of the assistance required, Saudi Arabia's ultimate decision-making would depend on the circumstances, with regime survival being the primary consideration.