Saudi Arabia’s costly war effort stalls as Houthi forces seize Red Sea coast

For more than a decade Saudi Arabia has struggled to suppress the Houthi rebels, despite massive procurement of sophisticated weapons from American, British and French manufacturers and the deployment of foreign personnel. The Houthis, bolstered by Iranian support, have captured Yemen’s whole Red Sea shoreline, blockaded Saudi oil exports and even hit Riyadh with missiles. Analysts argue that Saudi reliance on fragmented proxy troops, the rugged Yemeni terrain and a deliberately small, controllable army have hampered effective counter-offensives.

The kingdom’s recent $24.3 billion purchase of 48 F-35 stealth fighters highlights its financial commitment, yet it lacks the combat experience to run complex operations independently. Internal divisions, such as the UAE’s withdrawal from key coastal areas, left a disorganized Saudi-backed force to defend strategic points. Low morale among Yemeni government soldiers further weakens the anti-Houthi front, while the rebels maintain a unified command structure and an expanding missile and drone arsenal.