Houthis launched cross border raids on Saudi military posts, sources say

The Houthis have launched multiple cross-border raids into Saudi Arabia in recent months, in an expansion of the conflict beyond Yemen, a western and Arab official with direct knowledge of the raids told Middle East Eye. The small-scale raids have targeted border posts in Saudi Arabia’s rugged, mountainous southwest. At least one raid occurred at the end of October, the officials told MEE. The western official told MEE that the Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, appear to have captured specific small arms that are known only to be used by Saudi border security forces. The end-of-October cross-border raid was also observed on surveillance equipment, the official added. The raids, which have not been publicly reported, would mark the first instance of Houthi cross-border attacks inside Saudi Arabia since the collapse of a ceasefire in Yemen. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Before the 2022 truce was signed, Saudi Arabia reported regular attempts by the Houthis to infiltrate the kingdom, as the Houthis conducted ground raids on border cities and army bases. Mohammed al-Basha, a Yemen expert and founder of the Basha Report Risk Advisory, told MEE he was closely watching Houthi military activity at the Saudi border, where the group is “gradually expanding the range and intensity” of attacks. “The initial phase involved long-range drones and short-range ballistic missiles. The second phase introduced short-range quadcopters that drop mortar munitions, as well as sniper operations,” he said. Basha said it was “only a matter of time” before the Houthis returned to launching ground raids. “I expect the initial operations to resemble the early years of the nearly 12-year Yemen war, when the Houthi fighters carried out hit-and-run attacks, captured coalition personnel, seized weapons and destroyed military equipment and vehicles before withdrawing,” added Basha, who is an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. The Arab official told MEE that Egyptian, Pakistani and Turkish military assistance would likely be valuable along the kingdom’s southern border as a result of the raids. Saudi Arabia’s Mecca Pact allies, Turkey and Pakistan, have said they plan to deploy forces, including air defence batteries, to the kingdom. Egypt’s parliament also approved the deployment of defensive forces to Saudi Arabia last week. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said on Saturday that Damascus is also thinking of joining the pact. The western official told MEE that some Syrian drone specialists had already arrived in Yemen to assist the Saudi-backed forces. Houthi claims on southern Saudi Arabia The Houthis’ cross-border attacks are unlikely to alter the military balance of power in Yemen, where Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces are struggling to stem a Houthi offensive. Reuters reported on Monday that the Houthis have advanced to within 50 miles of Aden port, which is the capital of the internationally recognised government. The group has also encircled Taiz. Houthi strikes mark the end of Saudi Arabia's Yemen 'containment strategy' Read More » The Houthis have launched hundreds of high-profile strikes on Saudi civilian infrastructure, including airports and energy installations. At least 24 people have been killed by the Houthi strikes. As a result, Riyadh was forced to cancel a high-profile investment forum. But the cross-border raids have underscored the vulnerability of Saudi Arabia’s remote southern border and the difficulties of policing the vast terrain. The attacks also reaffirm apprehension inside the kingdom that the Houthis have territorial ambitions. While the Houthis have mainly fought inside Yemen, they have revisionist claims against Saudi Arabia, particularly against its three southern provinces of Asir, Jazan and Najran, which Yemen ceded to Saudi Arabia in the 1934 Treaty of Taif. The Houthis originated in Yemen’s Saada governorate, the mountainous region south of the border with Saudi Arabia. The movement takes its name from its founder, Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi and follows the Zaydi sect of Shia Islam. The Houthis recruit across Yemeni society, but their senior leadership claims Hashemite descent, which would link them to the Prophet Muhammad.