The discussion featured Hussain al-Bukhaiti, activist and political commentator, and Leila Hatoum, editor-in-chief of Mena Uncensored, examining Ansarullah’s recent attack on Saudi-backed mercenaries and the prospects for renewed escalation in Yemen.
Bukhaiti argued that any future Saudi military campaign would be fully supported by the United States, with Saudi air power playing the decisive role in backing ground offensives by allied forces. He suggested the latest strike targeted an area near Sana’a likely to serve as a launch point for an assault on the capital, noting Saudi and Emirati military infrastructure across southern and eastern Yemen ultimately serves long-term US and Israeli strategic interests.
Hatoum meanwhile contended that Ansarullah has largely adhered to the 2022 truce and portrayed its latest operation as a response to repeated violations by Saudi-backed forces. She maintained the strikes targeted military personnel rather than civilians and warned that Saudi Arabia could respond with airstrikes on civilian areas.
However, she argued Washington is unlikely to allow a prolonged escalation, asserting that the United States will seek to restrain Saudi Arabia to avoid a wider regional conflict ahead of the US midterm elections.
Overall, both analysts anticipated heightened tensions while emphasizing the central role of US policy in shaping the conflict’s trajectory.
