WSJ: Saudi Arabia seeks to keep Houthis out of Iran conflict

Saudi Arabia is making efforts to prevent the Shiite movement Ansar Allah (Houthis), which controls northern Yemen, from becoming involved in the conflict with Iran, The Wall Street Journal reports, citing sources.

“If the Houthis enter the conflict, it really raises the stakes,” said Adam Baron, a fellow at think tank New America who specializes in Yemen and the Gulf. “It pulls the Suez Canal and the Egyptians in, it brings Saudi further in.” 

According to the WSJ report, the U.S. and Israel are also trying to avoid actions that could provoke retaliatory responses from the Houthis.

Sources noted that Saudi Arabia has a 2022 agreement with the Houthis under which they pledged not to attack the kingdom’s territory or its ships.