Saudi Arabia Plans 100,000-Troop Ground and Air Offensive to Retake Bab el-Mandeb Strait

Saudi Arabia is planning a major combined ground and air offensive involving up to 100,000 troops to retake the Bab el-Mandeb strait from Houthi forces, according to reports from The Independent, Ynetnews, and Reuters. The operation is aimed at breaking the Houthi stranglehold on Red Sea shipping lanes, which has disrupted global maritime trade since the Houthis seized strategic chokepoints in September 2026.