Regional War Begins
Saudi Arabia launched “Operation Decisive Storm,” a massive military intervention in Yemen, leading a coalition of Arab states in airstrikes against Houthi positions. The intervention, requested by fled President Hadi, marked the beginning of what would become a devastating regional conflict.
Coalition Assembled
The Saudi-led coalition included:
- UAE: Fighter jets and special forces
- Egypt: Naval forces and troops offered
- Kuwait: 15 fighter jets deployed
- Bahrain: F-16 squadron committed
- Qatar: 10 fighter jets
- Jordan: 6 fighter jets
- Morocco: F-16 squadron
- Sudan: Aircraft and potential ground troops
First Wave Strikes
Initial targets included:
- Houthi command centers in Sanaa
- Air defense systems
- Military airports
- Weapons depots
- Ballistic missile sites
Strategic Objectives
Saudi Arabia declared goals:
- Restore President Hadi to power
- Prevent Iranian influence expansion
- Protect Saudi border regions
- Eliminate Houthi military capabilities
US Support Role
American backing included:
- Intelligence sharing
- Aerial refueling
- Naval coordination
- Weapons sales acceleration
- Targeting assistance
Immediate Impact
First 48 hours resulted in:
- Sanaa airport destroyed
- Air force eliminated
- Dozens of civilians killed
- Mass panic in cities
- Humanitarian supplies blocked
Houthi Response
The rebels reacted with:
- Mobilization declarations
- Missile attacks on Saudi border
- Threats to shipping lanes
- Alliance with ex-president Saleh
- Iranian support requests
Regional Reactions
Supporting States:
- Pakistan: Parliament debates involvement
- Turkey: Political support offered
- Somalia: Airspace access granted
Opposition:
- Iran: Condemns “aggression”
- Russia: Calls for ceasefire
- Syria: Supports Houthis
- Iraq: Criticizes intervention
Humanitarian Warnings
Aid organizations immediately warned:
- Civilian casualties inevitable
- Medical system collapse
- Food imports blocked
- Water infrastructure threatened
- Refugee crisis emerging
Legal Justifications
Coalition cited:
- Legitimate government request
- Self-defense provisions
- Regional stability threat
- UN Charter Article 51
Military Superiority
Coalition advantages:
- Advanced fighter jets
- Precision weapons
- Naval dominance
- Intelligence capabilities
- Unlimited resources
Unexpected Resistance
Despite overwhelming force:
- Houthis retained ground control
- Urban warfare advantages
- Local support in north
- Battle-hardened fighters
- Knowledge of terrain
Civilian Catastrophe
Early civilian impact:
- Wedding party struck
- Refugee camp hit
- Hospitals damaged
- Schools destroyed
- Markets bombed
Economic Warfare
Blockade immediately caused:
- Fuel shortages
- Food price spikes
- Medicine scarcity
- Port closures
- Currency collapse
Media Battles
Information war featured:
- Saudi control of narrative
- Houthi propaganda videos
- Social media battles
- Journalist restrictions
- Casualty figure disputes
International Diplomacy
UN Security Council:
- Resolution 2216 passed
- Arms embargo on Houthis
- Russia abstains
- Humanitarian access demanded
Iranian Escalation
Tehran responded by:
- Weapons shipment attempts
- Advisor deployments alleged
- Naval presence increased
- Diplomatic offensive
- Media campaign
Quick Victory Illusion
Saudi expectations vs reality:
- Expected: 6-week campaign
- Reality: Years-long quagmire
- Cost: Billions monthly
- Casualties: Mounting steadily
Warning Signs
Early indicators of prolonged conflict:
- Houthi retreat to mountains
- Guerrilla tactics adopted
- Supply lines stretched
- International criticism growing
- Civilian casualties mounting
Al-Qaeda Benefits
AQAP exploited chaos:
- Expanded territory control
- Recruited from chaos
- Attacked both sides
- Established mini-state
Southern Fragmentation
Southern Transitional Council:
- Declared autonomy goals
- UAE backing secured
- Complicated war dynamics
- Fought Hadi government
Historical Parallels
Analysts compared to:
- Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
- US intervention in Vietnam
- Israeli invasion of Lebanon
- Egyptian intervention in Yemen (1960s)
Human Cost Begins
Within first month:
- 500+ civilians killed
- 100,000+ displaced
- Cholera risk emerging
- Famine warnings issued
The Saudi intervention in Yemen, intended as a quick campaign to restore the government, instead initiated what the UN would later call the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with no end in sight.