Saudi Arabia has intensified airstrikes and provided air cover for Yemeni government-aligned forces in a counteroffensive launched in early October 2026, recapturing coastal areas around the Bab al-Mandab Strait after Houthi advances in September. Operations rely on Yemeni ground units supported by roughly 100 Saudi jets, alongside US intelligence and targeting assistance delivered from Saudi territory. No official reports confirm active Saudi regular military personnel entering Yemen for direct combat roles, consistent with Riyadh’s long-standing emphasis on air power and proxy forces since 2015. Trader probabilities remain low for near-term resolution dates, reflecting the coalition’s current structure and Saudi caution over direct troop deployments amid ongoing Red Sea and border tensions. Further escalation could shift dynamics if Houthi missile strikes on Saudi territory intensify or if ground requirements grow.