US holds back from Yemen war as Saudi Arabia faces Houthi pressure: Analysis

The Houthis have rejected reports that one of their drones was intercepted heading towards Mecca, calling the claim "a nauseating lie". Oil prices have climbed after tanker loading was halted at Saudi Arabia's Red Sea port of Yanbu, following an attack on the East-West pipeline that could take five weeks to repair. Saudi Arabia and Egypt are calling for free navigation in the Red Sea as the Saudi Crown Prince holds talks in Cairo. Lorenzo Kamel, professor of international history at the University of Turin, told Al Jazeera that Ansar Allah operates with growing local autonomy and is not merely an Iranian proxy, but is capitalising on regional chaos to force concessions from Riyadh. He said Saudi Arabia has historically outsourced its security to the United States, which "will never bring a formal lasting peace". On Washington's hesitation to intervene directly in Yemen, Kamel said the US has "paid a harsh price in recent months" and is wary of the midterm elections, accusing Iran of "weaponising the markets" to create an economic shockwave before the vote. He said Iran cannot fully close the Strait of Hormuz while the US cannot fully open it, meaning the stalemate is likely to continue, and warned that Tehran has an interest in choosing escalation over surrender. Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on X: https://X.com/AJEnglish Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/ Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/ Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.news/AJEMobile #Yemen #Houthis #AnsarAllah #Trump #SaudiArabia #Jizan #YemenWar #SaudiYemenTensions #YemenWar # #BabAlMandeb #MeccaJointDefenceAgreement