Media: US-Backed forces prepare major assault on Houthis in Yemen

Preparations are reportedly underway for a major ground offensive in Yemen aimed at dislodging the Houthi movement from key strategic positions, including the critical Red Sea port of Hodeidah.

Regional diplomatic sources say the planned operation would be launched from the south and east of the country, with potential support along the coast, in what could be the most coordinated military push in years, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The internationally recognised Yemeni government, supported primarily by the United Arab Emirates and controlling parts of southern Yemen, is expected to lead the ground operation. However, experts question whether its forces have the cohesion necessary to challenge the well-entrenched Houthis.

“They’re already trained and equipped,” says Michael Knights, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. “But there are doubts about their unity.”

According to Knights, while the United States is unlikely to deploy ground troops beyond a limited number of special forces for airstrike coordination, Washington may offer logistical backing and key munitions to allied Yemeni forces. The UAE, which has long supported the Aden-based government, is expected to provide quiet support behind the scenes.

The Saudi position remains ambiguous. While Riyadh has publicly supported efforts to counter Houthi influence, there are growing concerns about retaliatory strikes. The Iran-aligned group has repeatedly demonstrated its capability to launch drones and missiles deep into Saudi territory. In response, the United States has recently accelerated deliveries of anti-missile systems to bolster Saudi defences.

Knights suggests that the US will have to reassure Saudi Arabia with the same level of protection it afforded Israel during last year’s Iranian missile strikes. “We are going to protect you in the same way that we protected Israel in 2024,” he said.

Yet, analysts remain sceptical about the effectiveness of airpower in weakening the Houthis’ grip on northern Yemen. “The Houthis have been bombed tens of thousands of times over the past decade and remain undeterred,” said Elisabeth Kendall, a Yemen expert. “So one is left thinking that the bombing is largely performative.”

Ahmed Nagi of the International Crisis Group warned that Western powers lack a nuanced understanding of the Houthis, whose opaque leadership and decentralised structure have frustrated intelligence gathering. “The US is wrong to believe that airstrikes can compel the Houthis to back down,” he said. “This approach failed under the Biden administration and is unlikely to succeed under the Trump administration.”

Knights echoed this sentiment, asserting that only a serious ground campaign could shift the balance. “They are an extremely aggressive movement. The best way to end them permanently is to overthrow them, remove them from the capital, remove them from the Red Sea coast,” he said.

By Vugar Khalilov