What does Tom Barrack's warning on Saudi Arabia reveal about US Middle East policy? - analysis

Report in UAE media says Houthis send spiritual advisors to front to encourage troops to believe in 'miracles' as they face Yemen government offensive.

US Ambassador Tom Barrack, who is ambassador to Turkey and also is the US envoy to Iraq and Syria, spoke on October 20 at the Global Security Forum in Doha. He mentioned how Saudi Arabia was in a “difficult position” today. He hinted at the challenge that Riyadh and others will face pursuing a solely military “kinetic” reaction.

This comes amid reports at Bloomberg that the UK would send Royal Air Force Typhoon fighters to help protect Saudi Arabia.

The comments by Ambassador Barrack are important. It is about how the US is thinking about the region. The US has been reticent to intervene in the conflict in Yemen. However, other countries are moving to do more. Egypt is considering sending forces to help Saudi Arabia. The United Arab Emirates and others are also considering what they might do. There were also reports about Israel looking at the continued threats from the Houthis in Yemen.

Meanwhile in Saudi Arabia reports continue to focus on the fighting in Yemen. Arab News, a Saudi media outlet, noted that the “Yemeni government forces captured new positions in Taiz as they intensified their offensive against the Houthis, carrying out 1,164 strikes and neutralizing an estimated 558 militia fighters over the past 24 hours, a military spokesperson said on Monday.” 

The report added that “Majed Al-Nuzaili, spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, said in a post on X/Twitter that government troops had forced Houthi fighters to retreat in Taiz under heavy air and artillery support as part of Operation Dawn of Yemen. The military also reported destroying or damaging 135 Houthi military vehicles and pieces of equipment during the operations, which targeted the militia’s troop concentrations, reinforcements, fortifications and supply routes.”

Houthis turn to religious advisors for support

Meanwhile Al-Ain news in the UAE reported on the fact that the Houthis are increasingly relying on spiritual leaders to guide their war effort. These spiritual leaders are encouraging the Houthis on the front to believe in “miracles” the report says. A source told Al-Ain that "these are a group of religious men whom the group appointed as spiritual leaders for its fighters on the front lines... their role is to delude the fighters on the front lines with imminent miracles and a coming victory."

The Houthis sent at least ten religious advisors to Mocha on the coast of the Red Sea to boast moral. This is aimed at slowing the ‘Dawn of Yemen’ operation launched by Yemen’s government.

“An informed source indicated that the Houthi militias distributed 6 of these spiritual leaders and religious authorities to the western coastal fronts, including the active fronts,” Al-Ain noted. “Observers believe that the Houthi leadership senses the pressure on the fronts.”

Riyadh hoping to push Houthis back

This will be welcome news in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia is taking a cautious approach and hoping attrition in Yemen can reduce the Houthi gains that took place in September.

The Houthis have been gearing up for offensives since July, relying on contacts with Iran. They have also tightened the siege around Taiz. It remains to be seen if the Houthis can be pushed back.

Saudi Arabia is lining up support from Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan, the UAE and other countries.