Intense Diplomatic Activity in Riyadh: A Major Operation to Liberate Hudaydah is Underway

Planned Intervention: A large-scale military operation is being prepared to retake Hudaydah from Houthi control.

Leadership: The operation will be led by Lt. Gen. Mahmoud Ahmed Salem Al-Subaihi, Yemen’s former Minister of Defense and current military advisor to the Presidential Leadership Council.

Strategic Goal: Securing vital maritime routes in the Red Sea.

Report

Sources have revealed that intensive diplomatic efforts are ongoing in Riyadh, paving the way for a comprehensive military campaign aimed at liberating the strategic city of Hudaydah from Houthi forces.

According to insiders, the operation will be commanded by Lt. Gen. Mahmoud Ahmed Salem Al-Subaihi, a prominent Yemeni military leader and former Minister of Defense. Al-Subaihi, born in 1948 in Lahj Province, is recognized for his significant contributions to Yemen’s military, including leading the Fourth Military Region and the Al-Anad Military Base.

This initiative is part of broader international and regional efforts to secure critical maritime corridors in the Red Sea, particularly following a surge in Houthi attacks on commercial vessels. Both the United States and Saudi Arabia have expressed strong support for the operation, underscoring the need to end Houthi control over Hudaydah and its ports, which serve as economic lifelines and humanitarian aid channels for millions of Yemenis.

Meanwhile, field reports indicate that Houthi forces in Hudaydah are reinforcing their defenses, digging tunnels, constructing fortifications, and forcibly evacuating civilians from areas likely to become battlegrounds.

Retaking Hudaydah is expected to have far-reaching implications, including safeguarding international navigation, disrupting Houthi supply lines, and alleviating Yemen’s humanitarian crisis by ensuring the unhindered flow of aid.

However, significant challenges lie ahead, such as the city’s complex geography, entrenched Houthi fortifications, and concerns about the humanitarian impact on civilians. To address these obstacles, the operation is anticipated to involve meticulous planning to minimize casualties and achieve its objectives efficiently.

As preparations intensify and Lt. Gen. Mahmoud Al-Subaihi takes charge, the international and local communities are closely watching developments in Hudaydah, hoping that this effort will pave the way for stability and relief for the war-torn nation.