Emboldened Houthis advance in Yemen, widen attacks on Saudi Arabia: What can stop them?

The Houthis, a militant group backed by Iran, have been making significant gains in Yemen, seizing strategic territory along the Red Sea coast and threatening Saudi cities and energy infrastructure. Despite years of bombing by powerful militaries, including those of the United States, Britain, and Israel, the Houthis have demonstrated their resilience and ability to continue posing a threat.

The latest escalation saw the Houthis target Riyadh for the first time, raising concerns among US officials and leading the White House to cut short President Trump's trip to Camp David. The United States is providing intelligence and targeting assistance to Saudi Arabia, but is not directly joining the campaign. The Houthis' recent advances have frustrated both Gulf and American officials, with doubts over whether the Saudi-led coalition can halt their advance.

The Houthis' success can be attributed to their geographic advantage, their growing arsenal of advanced weaponry, and the weakness and divisions among their opponents. A decisive military victory through ground forces is a challenging prospect, and some experts believe a larger ground campaign could be necessary to change the military balance.

However, this approach comes with significant risks and is unlikely to produce a decisive outcome. Containment, through the use of sophisticated air and missile defence systems, is another potential strategy, but it is a costly and ongoing challenge for Saudi Arabia. Ultimately, the escalating conflict between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition poses a serious threat to regional stability and highlights the limitations of military approaches to resolving the crisis in Yemen.