News - Yemen: Senior Yemeni analysts warn that Saudi Arabia is being pushed toward a deeper role in a new US-Israeli strategic framework following the failure of American and Zionist efforts to impose control in the Red Sea and curb Yemen’s growing regional influence.

Zakaria Al-Shar‘abi, Director of the Information Center at the Moral Guidance Department, said recent Saudi political and security moves cannot be separated from the “strategic failure” of the United States, Western allies, and the Israeli enemy to counter Yemen’s actions in the Red Sea.

Al-Shar‘abi told Al-Masirah TV that Washington’s inability to impose maritime dominance, coupled with Yemen’s decisive position over the past two years, delivered a direct blow to the core of US geopolitical hegemony and undermined the so-called “New Middle East” plan pursued jointly by Washington and Tel Aviv.

He noted that the Israeli enemy has repeatedly expressed the need for regional partners to confront Yemen and continues issuing threats—most recently by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu—despite declared ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon. Al-Shar‘abi warned that the calm is “fragile and illusory” and that escalation remains likely.

He further highlighted a clause in the US–Saudi agreement signed during bin Salman’s recent visit to Washington—published by the White House—stating that Riyadh would bear certain costs on behalf of the United States in facing “shared threats” and ensuring secure American supply routes. According to Al-Shar‘abi, this underscores Riyadh’s advancing role in support of the US-Israeli agenda.

In a parallel assessment, Ambassador Abdullah Sabri of the Yemeni Ministry of Foreign Affairs said recent Saudi activity appears increasingly aligned with Israeli priorities, driven by American pressure to tighten the blockade on Yemen and escalate political, media, and potentially military actions.

Speaking to Al-Masirah, Sabri said the latest documented Saudi moves cannot be viewed in isolation from the broader context, including the cessation of Israeli military operations in Gaza. He noted that the Israeli enemy has repeatedly stated there is no link between the Gaza front and the Yemen front, confirming that “the confrontation with Yemen remains open.”

Sabri added that the Israeli enemy’s internal assessments concluded that any direct confrontation with Yemen would be ineffective, prompting it to rely on “agents and proxies.” He argued that Saudi Arabia is now being positioned as the primary regional proxy after years of indirect involvement through local partners during the previous eight-year war.

Field and media indicators, Sabri said, suggest that “Saudi Arabia itself is preparing for potential direct involvement in a major escalation alongside the entity.” He pointed to an intensifying media campaign against Yemen and rising logistical preparations on the ground. He also cited UN Security Council Resolution 22801, which he said provides additional cover for tightening maritime restrictions and inspections in the Red Sea in line with US-Israeli objectives.

Sabri affirmed that Yemen’s government in Sana'a is “prepared for all scenarios—militarily, politically, and popularly”—and that any upcoming confrontation “will not resemble previous ones.”

He concluded that the evolving situation may enable Yemen to advance toward completing the liberation of its territory “from Al-Mahra to Sa'adah,” ultimately ending the tension and militarization of the Red Sea and restoring its security to the littoral states, foremost among them Yemen itself.

Recent months have seen heightened geopolitical competition in the Red Sea following Yemen’s naval campaign restricting Israeli-linked vessels. The shift has disrupted Zionist trade routes and challenged US and Israeli maritime influence. 

As Washington seeks new partners to maintain security corridors, Saudi Arabia has come under pressure to assume a more assertive role, especially amid regional ceasefires that have not resolved underlying conflicts. 

Analysts argue that Yemen’s growing military capabilities and strategic position continue to reshape regional alliances and threaten longstanding US-Israeli policies in the Red Sea and Arabian Peninsula.