Saudi Arabia seeks to avoid renewed conflict with Yemen: Bloomberg

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Bloomberg
27 Jul 2024 00:15
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The Saudi Defense Ministry has denied any involvement in recent Israeli airstrikes on Hodeidah.

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A Yemeni soldier stands on board of the Israeli Galaxy ship which was seized by Ansar Allah, in the port of Saleef, near Hodeidah, Yemen, Sunday, May 12, 2024 (AP Photo/Osamah Abdulrahman)

Saudi Arabia is taking steps to prevent a potential escalation into direct conflict with the Yemeni resistance, Bloomberg reports.

The kingdom's concern has grown following an expansion of operations from the Yemeni Resistance, who have recently targeted "Israel" and threatened to attack Saudi Arabia over plans to wage an economic war against them.

Reports indicate that Riyadh is apprehensive about becoming involved in a new conflict in Yemen. Sources close to the Saudi government’s strategy reveal that Saudi officials are urging the Western-recognized Yemeni government and the central bank to reconsider measures designed to weaken Sanaa.

The Saudis have warned that they might cut economic and military support to the administration they back if these actions continue, potentially leading to a conflict that the Riyadh-backed government could face alone.

The Saudi Defense Ministry has denied any involvement in recent Israeli airstrikes on Hodeidah, while the Foreign Ministry has called for "maximum restraint" from all parties involved.

Concerns on the part of the Saudis have particularly heightened since a drone attack by the Yemeni Resistance on "Israel."

In response, Saudi officials have been working to exert more pressure on Sanaa by communicating with the Western-recognized government and the central bank new restraining measures.

The report notes that previous airstrikes by the US and UK did not stop attacks and that Saudi Arabia is working to de-escalate by urging reconsideration of measures against the Resistance.

Bernard Haykel, a professor of Middle Eastern Studies at Princeton University, told Bloomberg that Saudi Arabia is cautious about provoking a new confrontation with Sanaa, noting that while American support might be fleeting, the Axis of resistance is an enduring regional player.