Saudi Arabia pauses airstrikes against Houthis as Oman brokers fresh talks

Saudi Arabia has paused its airstrike campaign against Houthi forces in Yemen and reopened diplomatic channels through Oman, a move aimed at preventing the conflict from spiraling into something far harder to contain. The timing matters: Houthi forces had recently threatened a naval blockade on Saudi-linked shipping in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the world’s most critical oil transit corridors. How we got here The Saudi-led military coalition first entered the Yemen conflict in 2015, backing the internationally recognized government against the Iran-aligned Houthi movement. Seven years of grinding warfare produced exactly one meaningful pause: a truce brokered in 2022 that bought some breathing room but ultimately came apart as hostilities resumed. By July 2026, the situation had deteriorated sharply again. Houthi forces escalated their campaign against Saudi infrastructure, targeting Saudi Aramco facilities in response to coalition strikes on Houthi-held areas including Hodeidah and Sanaa airport. The tit-for-tat cycle was back in full rotation. Then came the naval blockade threat. Houthi leadership announced intentions to target Saudi-affiliated vessels transiting the Bab el...