Ansarollah Website | Report by Ali Al-Darwani
The media narratives of the Saudi-led coalition against Yemen are unraveling in the face of field developments and the human reality imposed by a twelve-year blockade. From the pretexts of a claimed "legitimacy" and securing maritime navigation to attempts at concealing the largest humanitarian catastrophe in modern history by alleging targets against Mecca and holy sites, Riyadh continues its maneuvers and attempts to buy time. However, the shift in tactical and military deterrence equations has established a new reality on the ground in favor of the Yemeni Armed Forces, scattering calculations and proving that political and media pressure points crumble in front of field achievements.
The Navigation Card and Religious Appeals
Saudi Arabia initiated its aggression in 2015 under a deceptive slogan: restoring the alleged "legitimacy" represented by the late traitor Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. This pretext quickly collapsed when Riyadh removed him, placed him under house arrest, and replaced him with a council composed of eight of its agents, stripping the justification of its substance in front of public opinion. As this justification fell away, the narrative shifted toward soliciting the international community under the banner of "securing international navigation" and raising global alarm regarding Yemeni control over Bab al-Mandab Strait, attempting to mobilize Western powers or drag Arab and Islamic armies into a regional conflict.
These attempts to garner sympathy went further. Saudi Arabia invoked emotional and religious appeals by promoting claims of attacks targeting holy sites in Mecca using drones. These allegations were completely devoid of truth, and Riyadh presented no tangible evidence to support them. The purpose was clear: to secure Islamic solidarity and justify years of bombardment and a comprehensive blockade on the Yemeni people. Despite the collapse of this narrative, several Arab and Islamic capitals exhibited political haste by adopting this propaganda and repeating prepared condemnations without scrutiny.
Attempts to Cover Up the Humanitarian Catastrophe and Repercussions of the Saudi Blockade
The humanitarian crisis resulting from the aggression against Yemen stands as one of the most severe humanitarian crises in modern history, characterized by United Nations reports and international organizations as a human-made disaster. Consequently, the United Nations has repeatedly listed Saudi Arabia regarding violations of children's rights. Years of aggression and blockade have led to direct and indirect losses, from civilian casualties and the breakdown of the healthcare sector to the spread of epidemics, movement restrictions, and the closure of ports and airports.
The military conflict and blockade have resulted in tens of thousands of casualties among killed and injured civilians, predominantly women and children. Thousands more have died from the indirect consequences of starvation, lack of medical care, travel restrictions, and income loss. Saudi propaganda aims to cover up these consequences, evade moral accountability, and conceal a grim humanitarian record under the guise of protecting navigation or claiming holy sites are at risk.
Procrastination in the Truce and Tactical Maneuvers
Procrastination extended beyond media narratives into political and diplomatic tracks. After signing the United Nations-announced truce agreement intended to address humanitarian concerns—including paying public sector salaries, opening closed roads, easing the blockade, and exchanging prisoners—Riyadh delayed and evaded its commitments. The objective was to buy time and complete military preparations to launch a renewed offensive against Sanaa through militia mobilizations along the front lines.
However, the Yemeni Armed Forces identified these plans. As Saudi Arabia began moving its proxy forces to achieve field breakthroughs, counter-military operations intercepted these movements, frustrating the plan and achieving field outcomes that prompted Riyadh to seek protection from various regional and international entities.
The Yemeni Response Alters Calculations
The Yemeni response extended beyond direct line engagements, adopting a strategic equation: blockade for blockade, and escalation for escalation. This formula served as a direct operational response to economic pressure and delays in addressing humanitarian matters. The Yemeni Armed Forces executed this strategy through operations directed at economic and vital infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, targeting oil facilities, power stations, and storage sites operated by Aramco across several regions, including Najran, Jizan, and refineries in Yanbu on the Red Sea coast, impacting energy markets and signaling that the blockade on Yemeni ports affects corresponding facilities.
Operations also targeted military and administrative centers, including King Khalid Air Base, aircraft hangars, and arms depots in Khamis Mushait, alongside military sites in border areas. Satellite imagery documented the extent of damage to Aramco storage tanks in Najran and Jizan, as well as facilities in Khamis Mushait, establishing that the deterrence equation has become an operational reality driven by field capabilities.
Satellite imagery has documented the scale of destruction and significant damage inflicted upon Aramco’s storage tanks and depots in Najran and Jizan—as well as damage in Khamis Mushait—confirming that the equation of deterrence has become a reality imposed by battlefield strength and Yemen’s escalating technological and military capabilities.
Conclusion
The shifts in narrative—from seeking a lost legitimacy to raising alarms over navigation, invoking religious arguments, and delaying truce commitments—reflect the state of confusion within the coalition's approach. Despite arms acquisitions, financial expenditure, and regional alignments, field developments demonstrate that resources alone do not dictate political outcomes against a population reliant on its resolve, as developments on the ground continue to define the current reality.
