The United States warned Saudi Arabia of the growing threat posed by the Houthi group in Yemen before the latest escalation, offering to assist Riyadh with military planning and provide intelligence on the group’s movements, The New York Times reported.
According to the newspaper, US military and intelligence officials had warned Saudi Arabia for months about the increasing Houthi threat and urged Saudi authorities to work toward unifying the fragmented forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognized government.
US officials also offered to help Riyadh with planning and intelligence, including information on the movements of Houthi forces. However, the proposed US support would not include direct airstrikes.
The developments come amid escalating fighting in Yemen in recent months, after forces aligned with the Yemeni government carried out a strike targeting Sanaa airport as a plane arriving from Iran was landing with a delegation of Houthi leaders on board.
The Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of being behind the strike and later announced an escalation of their confrontation with the kingdom, demanding an end to the blockade of areas under their control.
Separately, earlier US media reports said that more than 100 American military advisers had arrived in Saudi Arabia to support the military campaign against the Houthis. The reports said the US role was focused on providing intelligence and assistance with target identification rather than directly participating in airstrikes.
The assistance comes as the Yemen conflict becomes increasingly important to Washington and Riyadh, particularly amid concerns over the security of maritime traffic in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
US reports have also indicated that Washington has expanded its intelligence support to Saudi Arabia in recent weeks, with more than 100 US military personnel and advisers reportedly stationed in the kingdom to assist with intelligence sharing and targeting operations.
According to the latest reports, Washington continues to focus on intelligence and logistical support while avoiding direct involvement in combat operations inside Yemen.
