Houthi ballistic missile reportedly hits King Fahd Port in Saudi Arabia

Europe's military readiness is being tested as Saudi Arabia seeks support to combat the advancing Houthi rebels in Yemen. Whitehall officials have admitted that deploying more UK forces to the region is "politically unfeasible" and that Britain lacks significant military resources, with the military already stretched thin. A select number of UK and other Western personnel are discreetly discussing assistance with air defenses in Saudi Arabia, as Riyadh strives to bolster its defenses and protect crucial Red Sea shipping routes from the ongoing Houthi offensive.

However, neither Europe nor the US appears prepared for a significant military intervention, according to Sascha Bruchmann, an analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. "I don’t think that the Europeans have spare capacity either. And then there’s not yet any political commitment that translates into a tangible military operation," he remarked.

The US is currently heavily engaged in its operation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, limiting its capacity to swiftly deploy forces to the Red Sea. Western governments are already "quite occupied," with the US unable to divert forces committed to the Strait of Hormuz operation. As the Houthis establish a second front by squeezing the Bab Al Mandeb strait, the US is unlikely to pursue another major military front, given its recent experience in the Iran war.

Britain currently has HMS Dragon, an air-defense destroyer, in the Arabian Sea alongside the Lyme Bay mine-sweeping support ship, but there is little else to send and "little appetite" for a larger deployment. European governments are considering potential air strikes on Houthi military sites, which could bolster relations with Riyadh and other Gulf governments while simultaneously addressing the energy crisis and fuel price fluctuations. However, political appetite in Europe remains lukewarm for a substantial military involvement.