Houthi Forces Warn Saudi Arabia to Stop Attacks, Foreign Media: Saudi Arabia May Have to Face Multi-Front Warfare Alone

[Global Times Special Correspondent in Saudi Arabia Ren Haoyu, Global Times Reporter Zhang Wang] According to Iranian media reports, the Yemeni Houthi armed group issued a stern warning to Saudi Arabia on the 20th to stop its ongoing attacks and blockade against the organization, or else the group would strike Saudi energy infrastructure, thereby destroying its economy. A senior member of the Houthi armed group, Mohammed Bouhaidi, warned during an interview with the Associated Press on the same day about countries that might "participate in the aggression against Yemen" alongside Saudi Arabia, stating that the Houthi armed group is "prepared to respond to conflicts on an international level." Meanwhile, the hoped-for U.S. intervention that Saudi Arabia is counting on has yet to materialize. The UK-based newspaper New Arab analyzed that after suffering drone attacks from Iraq, Saudi Arabia is effectively caught in a multi-front war, but it can only face it alone: preventing the Houthi armed group from consolidating its gains while avoiding a costly ground war.

The Houthi armed group: will continue military operations against Saudi Arabia

According to reports from Iranian news television on the 21st, a senior military commander of the Yemeni Houthi armed group issued a joint statement on the 20th stating that their forces will continue military operations against Saudi Arabia. The Saudi side must learn a lesson, as the Houthi armed group's ballistic missiles and drones are accurately striking multiple targets within Saudi Arabia. "If you make any move, you will pay a heavy price. Our armed forces have taken effective measures to establish a new deterrent posture."

On the previous day, reports from the Houthi-controlled Masirah TV stated that Saudi warplanes conducted airstrikes on communication towers in the northern Yemeni province of Al-Jawf, resulting in 4 deaths and 3 injuries. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree stated on social media that Saudi Arabia had launched 28 airstrikes in the past 24 hours against the Yemeni provinces of Taiz, Al-Jawf, and Marib. Since the escalation of military operations, the total number of airstrikes launched by Saudi Arabia has reached 760.

Previously, the Houthi armed group had repeatedly launched missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia. On the 19th, explosions were heard in the Saudi capital Riyadh. The spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition, Maliki, stated that Saudi air defense forces successfully intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi armed group towards Riyadh.

On the same day, residents of Riyadh received air defense alerts via mobile phones, and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh briefly closed before resuming operations. Global Times reporters learned through social media and conversations with local residents that social life in Riyadh was not significantly affected. September 23 is Saudi National Day, and celebrations are being planned across the country.

The UK-based Middle East Eye reported on the 20th that the series of attacks over the weekend is part of a new round of high-intensity offensives by the Houthi armed group. This armed group aims to completely seize the Yemeni Red Sea coastline and the crucial Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. Due to a critical shortage of interceptor missiles, Saudi Arabia has urgently requested air defense support from France, the UK, Pakistan, and Egypt.

Meanwhile, the previously signed Mecca Joint Defense Agreement with Turkey and Pakistan has yet to yield immediate substantial actions. The agreement stipulates that any armed attack against any of the three countries will be regarded as an attack against all three countries.

Analyst Hazem Tawil, based in Lebanon, told the Azerbaijan news website on the 21st that the current Houthi armed group crisis could serve as a litmus test for whether the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement can evolve from a political declaration into an effective security framework: the real test lies in whether the Houthi armed group's attacks will expose the differences between Riyadh and its partners—how much each party is willing to pay for collective security.

The Houthi armed group's actions in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait are not aimed at the U.S. or any other country, "the only exception is Saudi Arabia."

The U.S. New York Times reported on the 20th that in response to Saudi Arabia's calls for assistance in combating the Houthi armed group, President Trump hesitated for several weeks. According to a senior U.S. government official, the president's core advisory team is largely extremely skeptical or even firmly opposed to joining Saudi Arabia in the fight against the Houthi armed group, especially considering the immense pressure the U.S. military is already facing in its conflict with Iran. Several current and former U.S. officials believe that even if the U.S. military provides support to Saudi Arabia, defeating the Houthi armed group would still be very difficult.

Middle East Eye stated that Saudi Arabia is facing an increasingly severe reality: reports indicate that the U.S. is consolidating its ceasefire agreement with the Houthi armed group through talks held in Oman, which means that Saudi Arabia will have to rely primarily on its own strength to cope with the expanding conflict.

Senior member of the Houthi armed group Mohammed Bouhaidi told the Associated Press on the 20th that the organization has assured the U.S. government that it will not target American vessels in the Red Sea. The Houthi armed group's actions in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait are not aimed at the U.S. or any other country, "the only exception is Saudi Arabia." He also stated that attacks against Saudi Arabia will continue until Riyadh lifts the decade-long blockade on Houthi-controlled areas and allows ships to enter the Red Sea ports controlled by the organization. Once these conditions are met, the Houthi armed group is prepared to negotiate.

The Indian Express analyzed that the training level and equipment status of the Houthi armed group have significantly improved, especially in terms of missiles and drones. Therefore, if a direct conflict occurs, the war could be prolonged and chaotic, causing Saudi Arabia to incur economic and security costs.

Trump is "open" to meeting with Iranian President at the UN General Assembly

Recently, several drones launched from Iraq attacked Saudi Arabia's east-west oil pipeline, forcing Saudi Arabia to close the pipeline for security reasons.

The New Arab reported that the U.S. Institute for the Study of War characterized this attack as part of a coordinated action by members of the Iranian-led "Axis of Resistance": by targeting Saudi energy infrastructure, they aim to force Saudi Arabia to meet the demands of the Houthi armed group. Tehran does not need to issue specific attack orders; attacks on the oil pipeline can achieve the same strategic objectives as the Houthi armed group's offensive in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. If it is confirmed that there is a direct operational link between the two fronts, two independent crises will merge into a unified operation targeting Saudi security infrastructure.

The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, stated over the weekend to Al Jazeera that Tehran hopes the conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi armed group can come to an end. He also mentioned that Iran has communicated its conditions for negotiating with the U.S. to mediators, including ending all hostilities against Iran, unfreezing Iranian assets, and ending maritime blockades.

Trump stated in an interview with Fox News on the 20th that he is in the "decision-making phase" regarding the U.S.-Iran situation. Trump described several current options: completely eliminating Iran, allowing it to "rot" economically, or reaching an agreement through negotiations. "Something big will happen in the near future," he said. U.S. media noted that Trump's remarks recalled his threats to Iran in April, when he stated, "Tonight, a civilization will be completely destroyed and will never exist again."

However, Trump also expressed that he is "open" to meeting with Iranian President Rouhani during the UN General Assembly.