Iran and the Houthis prepare for an attack: The warning that alarmed Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia claims that Iran, the Houthis, and Iraqi militias are preparing to attack the kingdom. In Riyadh, they threaten to respond to any threat, against the backdrop of preparations for an operation in Yemen and rising tensions in the Red Sea.
An official Saudi source told the Al-Arabiya network that the kingdom possesses several reliable intelligence reports according to which the Houthis and Iraqi militias, with the support of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, are coordinating preparations for attacks against Saudi Arabia. According to the source, the intelligence reports, which he described as "reliable and based on several sources," point to joint coordination for the purpose of carrying out attacks against the kingdom. He noted that this development reflects a dangerous escalation, despite regional efforts to reduce tensions.
The source added that the intelligence information was received with astonishment in Riyadh, as it comes at a time when Saudi Arabia continues to work to promote calm and peaceful solutions. He stated:
"The kingdom will not take lightly any threat to its security, and it will take all necessary measures to deal with any aggression, to maintain its security and stability, and to protect its territory and its citizens."
The report comes against the backdrop of Saudi preparations for a potential broad military operation against the Houthi rebels in Yemen. According to a report in The Guardian, the move may include a naval operation and a ground attack in the center of the country, following fears in Riyadh of severe damage to oil exports through the Red Sea after the Houthis declared a blockade on Saudi ships.
Saudi forces were observed withdrawing from eastern Yemen as part of possible preparations for a ground attack in the Al-Bayda province, which was captured by the Houthis in 2020–2021. At the same time, Saudi Arabia is working to establish an international naval coalition to protect shipping lanes in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The Saudi Ministry of Defense announced that 14 countries, including Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, Sudan, and Djibouti, have expressed support for the initiative. Riyadh has also approached the USA and several European countries with a request to join the move.
Meanwhile, the Houthi army spokesman, Yahya Saree, claimed in a recorded message that following the identification of large concentrations of pro-Saudi forces, the organization carried out a large-scale attack against bases and troop concentrations in Yemen.
Saree claimed that the attack was carried out using a large number of ballistic missiles and UAVs, causing hundreds of deaths and injuries and the destruction of bases and vehicles. His claims were not confirmed by an independent source. The Houthi spokesman warned Saudi Arabia against "a foolish act against Yemen and its people," stating that Saudi Arabia would bear responsibility for it, and called on the pro-Saudi forces to abandon their bases.
