Houthi Rebels Shift Focus From Israel to Saudi Arabia Amid Escalating Conflict
In recent weeks, the Houthi movement in Yemen has redirected its militant public messaging away from the United States and Israel, concentrating instead on Saudi Arabia. This shift reflects the intensifying military confrontation with Saudi Arabia, which supports Yemen's legitimate government and enforces a comprehensive land, sea, and air blockade on Houthi-controlled areas.
Online, Houthi-affiliated hashtags previously targeting Israel and the US, such as "Ready for the Next Round," have been replaced with slogans like "Break the Siege" and "Siege for Siege," directly addressing Saudi Arabia. On July 11, the Houthis called for a widespread social media campaign against the Saudi blockade, accusing the Saudi regime of starving the Yemeni people and refusing to accept continued siege conditions.
Armed tribal gatherings have also primarily targeted Saudi Arabia rather than Israel or the US. On July 6, a tribal assembly in Sanaa declared readiness to mobilize against the aggression and siege. Similar meetings occurred in other Houthi-controlled provinces including Marib, Dhamar, Taiz, Al-Mahwit, Ibb, and Amran. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree, known for announcing past attacks on Israel, has recently threatened Saudi Arabia, reporting operations such as strikes on Saudi warplanes, the Abha International Airport, downing a Saudi drone, and attacks on Aramco facilities and ships.
Despite this Saudi focus, the Houthis maintain their slogan "Death to America, Death to Israel, Curse on the Jews, Victory to Islam," viewing the US as the power behind Saudi actions. Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi stated on July 16 that Americans, British, and Israelis are pushing Saudi Arabia to escalate against Yemen, attempting to create a local facade for their actions. Political bureau member Mohammed al-Bukhaiti added that if the US supports Saudi aggression, the Houthis will respond directly to the US, preferring confrontation with the US, UK, and Israel over Saudi Arabia.
A Sanaa source unaffiliated with the Houthis confirmed recent directives to unify rhetoric against Saudi Arabia and avoid other topics, emphasizing that the current and next phases are focused on war with Saudi Arabia until the oil crisis is resolved and the blockade, including airport and seaport closures, is lifted. The source noted worsening hunger and public dissatisfaction in Houthi areas, with the Saudi focus serving to ease internal pressures on Houthi governance.
A Yemeni researcher told ynet that the rhetoric escalation against Saudi Arabia began in June, aiming to portray Houthi actions as locally motivated rather than solely Iranian proxies. The researcher linked this to regional tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, the collapse of ceasefire understandings, and renewed military conflict. Iran had urged the Houthis to close the Bab al-Mandab Strait, but the Houthis have resisted, as Iranian support slogans are less popular locally than those supporting Gaza. The researcher explained that the Houthis are preparing public opinion for future maritime disruptions, using the siege and Saudi aggression as effective tools to regain popular support amid deteriorating living conditions and economic hardship in their territories.
