Yemen: A Striking Military Paradox Raises Serious Questions: Who Is Really Under Siege the Houthis or Saudi Arabia’s Allies?
- 2026-10-20
- 16:17:06
By Jamal Alawadhi
Paris -- The Houthis, who have been subjected to a blockade for more than a decade and have faced continuous airstrikes, still possess an arsenal of ballistic missiles, drones, and advanced weaponry.
Some of these weapons are assembled inside Yemen, while others reach them through smuggling networks and specific entry points.
In contrast, the forces supposedly allied with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the fight against the Houthis continue to rely primarily on light and medium weapons.
They have not been equipped with advanced missile systems or sophisticated drones that would enable them to establish effective deterrence and respond to Houthi attacks.
The result? Repeated attacks, particularly against southern military fronts, have claimed the lives of hundreds of southern fighters, while a glaring imbalance in military capabilities and armaments continues to persist.
The most astonishing paradox is that Iran, despite international sanctions and the restrictions imposed on its allies, continues to provide them with support that serves its strategic objectives.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s policy toward its allies in Yemen appears unable to break the cycle of repeated military failures and setbacks.
This raises a fundamental question that demands a clear and honest answer?
How has Iran managed to arm its allies despite the blockade imposed on them, while Saudi Arabia has failed to provide the forces fighting alongside it with the necessary means of deterrence?
Is this the result of political calculations?
The absence of a coherent military strategy? Or are there parties that simply do not want these forces to acquire the capabilities needed to decisively change the course of the war?
After more than a decade of conflict, the central question is no longer simply why the Houthis remain militarily powerful, but rather why the very forces supposedly fighting against them continue to be denied the capabilities necessary to confront them effectively.
So, what exactly is going on?!