Maariv: Yemen Proves Ability to Inflict Massive Damage on Saudi Arabia, Reviving the Spectre of All-Out War
Escalating Israeli fears of a new flare-up in Yemen following the killing of 17 Saudi-backed forces… and an expert warns that the Yemenis are capable of making their adversaries "bleed costs."
NYN | Reports and Analyses
The Israeli newspaper Maariv expressed growing concerns over the repercussions of the escalation in Yemen, warning that recent field developments could plunge the region back into the atmosphere of all-out war, amid ongoing Yemeni operations and escalating pressure on Saudi Arabia.
The paper stated that Yemen has demonstrated during recent confrontations that it possesses greater capabilities than previously anticipated, noting that continued escalation could exact a heavy toll on Saudi Arabia and other parties involved in the conflict, with the potential for operations to expand in the coming period.
Maariv: Yemen is Capable of Inflicting Massive Damage on Saudi Arabia
Maariv quoted a London-based research center expert on Yemeni affairs as assessing that the Yemenis may move toward escalating their attacks, basing this on what he described as the capabilities they showcased during recent clashes.
According to the paper, the expert noted that the Yemenis “have proven to be much stronger there,” adding that they are capable of making their adversaries “bleed costs,” while simultaneously retaining the capacity to inflict severe damage.
According to the report, these assessments reflect heightened anxiety over the ability of Yemeni escalation to impose new equations in the region, particularly as tensions persist on both land and sea fronts.
Fears of Truce Collapse and the Return to War
The Israeli daily highlighted that fears of a return to all-out war have mounted in recent days, especially following operations that resulted, according to its reporting, in the killing of 17 Saudi-backed forces in Yemen.
Maariv considers that ongoing operations and field tensions raise the likelihood of a ceasefire collapse, opening the door to a new round of confrontations that could be far broader in scope than previous ones.
The Red Sea at the Heart of the Escalation
The report also shed light on the ramifications of the Red Sea escalation amid persistent tensions tied to maritime traffic. It posited that expanding Yemeni operations could heap further pressure on Saudi Arabia and complicate the calculations of regional and international stakeholders involved in the Yemeni file.
These warnings come at a time when Israeli anxieties are mounting over the possibility that prolonged confrontation could alter the nature of the military landscape in the region—especially if operations transition to a broader phase targeting vital Saudi interests.
According to the paper’s analysis, recent developments underscore that relying on the containment of Yemeni escalation remains fraught with risk, given that Sanaa—based on the assessments cited in the report—possesses the capability to raise the cost of the confrontation and generate impacts that extend beyond the borders of the Yemeni arena.
