The geopolitical landscape of the Red Sea has been radically redrawn following a historic military announcement from Yemen’s Armed Forces (YAF). As Ansar Allah celebrates a sweeping battlefield triumph, the shifting dynamics have triggered panicked appeals from Riyadh to Washington—and stark warnings from U.S. intelligence veterans regarding the inevitable consequences of America’s Middle East strategies.
A “Divine Victory” on the Red Sea
In a major statement delivered by YAF Spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree, the military detailed a massive offensive launched on September 3, codenamed “And Allah Is Stronger in Might and More Severe in Punishment.” The operation has resulted in the liberation of 5,400 square kilometres across the Taiz and Hodeidah governorates, including the strategic coastal hubs of al-Mokha and al-Khokha.
Most critically, the YAF announced it has secured the vital areas overlooking the Bab al-Mandab Strait, including Mayyun (Perim) Island. By consolidating control over one of the world’s most crucial maritime chokepoints, the YAF has enforced a strict “blockade for blockade” policy, banning Saudi vessels while assuring safe passage for other international shipping.
The offensive shattered 38 brigades of Saudi-backed coalition forces, leaving over 2,000 mercenaries besieged and desperate for rescue on the Greater and Lesser Hanish Islands.
Washington Rejects Riyadh’s Pleas for Intervention
The rapid collapse of Saudi proxy forces on the ground reportedly sparked a crisis in Riyadh. Amid the escalating military clashes, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman contacted U.S. President Donald Trump twice via telephone, urgently requesting that the United States launch direct military strikes against Ansar Allah.
President Trump rejected the request. According to U.S. officials, the administration currently has no plans to take direct military action against the group. This refusal marks a significant pivot, signalling Washington’s reluctance to be dragged into another regional airstrike campaign to prop up failing allied proxies.
Joe Kent and the Inevitability of ‘Blowback’
The battlefield realities in Yemen and Washington’s newfound restraint align perfectly with recent warnings issued by Joe Kent, the former director of the Washington-based National Counterterrorism Centre.
Writing on X, Kent argued that the rapid Houthi advance is “just the beginning of the blowback” resulting from failed U.S. Middle East policies. Kent points out that the Houthis have achieved these territorial gains not just through military might, but by successfully forging alliances with local tribes—including crucial Sunni factions—far beyond their traditional Zaydi Shi’a strongholds.
According to Kent, the ongoing U.S.-backed Saudi war in Yemen, combined with the war in Gaza and military actions against Iran, has united disparate regional factions against a common adversary. Rather than isolating Tehran, Kent argues these interventions have supercharged the “Axis of Resistance,” giving Iran’s influence a massive boost across Yemen, Iraq, and Lebanon.
For Kent, the Houthi expansion is the direct result of a destructive cycle of violence fuelled by foreign intervention. He concludes by issuing a direct challenge to the Trump administration: while the President understands that ending U.S. foreign entanglements serves American interests, the ultimate test is whether his administration has the “moral courage” to actually follow through and withdraw.
A New Strategic Reality
The convergence of these three events—Yemen’s strategic chokehold on the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia’s inability to secure American air support, and the validation of Joe Kent’s “blowback” thesis—marks a profound turning point. As the YAF consolidates its gains and the U.S. steps back from the brink of direct intervention, the Middle East is being forced to reckon with the limits of foreign military power and the rising cost of geopolitical entanglements.
Reference: Al-Muraqeb