Houthis Seize And Flaunt Military Assets As MBS Turns To Putin For Yemen Truce

The Houthis are flaunting captured military assets as their rapid advance in Yemen puts Saudi Arabia under mounting pressure, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman now turning to diplomacy as Riyadh struggles to contain the crisis.

Videos released by the Houthis show fighters displaying captured military assets, including vehicles and equipment, after recent battles with Saudi-backed Yemeni forces. The footage cannot be independently verified, and it is unclear whether all the equipment shown was captured from Saudi forces or Saudi-backed Yemeni units. But the message from the Houthis is clear: they want to showcase their battlefield gains and demonstrate that Saudi-backed forces are struggling to stop their advance.

The group has also taken the fight directly into Saudi Arabia. The Houthis have claimed attacks on Saudi military bases, including a strike on the Sharurah base, while Saudi authorities have reported projectiles and attacks in southern areas. The Houthis have also targeted Saudi energy infrastructure, including facilities linked to Aramco. Some battlefield claims remain independently unverified.

The Houthis have warned that Saudi Arabia will face retaliation for its military campaign in Yemen. Houthi leaders have threatened Saudi economic and energy targets, while accusing Riyadh of carrying out hundreds of strikes against Yemen. One Houthi claim put the number at more than 712 air and missile strikes, a figure that should be treated as a claim by the group rather than independently established.

For MBS, the problem is that his allies have not provided the straightforward military intervention Riyadh wants. MBS pressed Donald Trump to strike the Houthis, but Trump declined. US officials instead offered intelligence and targeting assistance, while Trump later considered military action before deciding to hold back.

Pakistan is another complication. Islamabad has faced pressure to honour its new defence commitments to Saudi Arabia while maintaining diplomatic channels with Iran. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Egypt ultimately issued a joint statement affirming Riyadh’s right to defend itself while calling for dialogue and diplomacy.

And now comes the diplomatic move.

On Tuesday, Vladimir Putin spoke with MBS by phone, with the two discussing the regional escalation, maritime security and the need for a political and diplomatic settlement. They also stressed the importance of keeping the Bab al-Mandeb and Strait of Hormuz open.

That comes as Saudi Arabia searches for a way out of a war it entered in 2015 and spent years trying to escape. The 2022 UN-brokered truce dramatically reduced large-scale fighting, but the latest offensive has reopened the conflict.