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Will the U.S. Strike the Houthis For Saudi Arabia? | EYES ON GEOPOLITICS

September 21, 2026

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5 min read

The U.S. Faces a Credibility Test as Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia Escalate

The Houthis launched cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and drones at Riyadh and other Saudi targets yesterday, striking Aramco fuel tanks and severing the Yambu pipeline that bypasses the Bab el-Mandeb strait. The Trump administration, which had reportedly reached a non-aggression understanding with the Houthis through Omani mediation, initially told Saudi Arabia it would not intervene militarily. But the panel on Eyes on Geopolitics — former CIA officer Mick Mulroy, former Marine Corps intelligence officer Andy Milburn, former DIA analyst Mark Pyle Meropolis, and former State Department official Jonathan Hackett — argued that the calculus may already be shifting, and that the stakes extend far beyond Yemen.

The Houthi Escalation and Saudi Arabia's Air Defense Crisis

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (00:44) **Episode Opening & Overview of a Chaotic Week** - The hosts set the table: Trump cut short a Camp David trip, Twitter erupted over a possible strike on Yemen or Iran, and the Houthis are attacking Saudi Arabia.
  • 2 (03:14) **The Houthi Threat & The US Dilemma** - Mick Mulroy outlines the strategic situation: the Houthis are in a stronger position than ever, threatening the Bab el-Mandeb strait and Saudi oil infrastructure.
  • 3 (06:18) **Houthi Leverage & IRGC Coordination** - Jonathan Hackett details the Houthis' growing regional power, including a recent visit from IRGC commanders, and their ability to play both sides.
  • 4 (09:11) **The Pipeline Severance & Saudi Arabia's Plea** - Andy Milburn explains how the Houthis and Iraqi militias have coordinated to cripple Saudi oil exports and why the US refusal to help is a strategic disaster.
  • 5 (12:14) **The Alliance Crisis: Saudi Arabia and the Gulf** - Mark Pyle Meropolis argues that the US refusal to defend Saudi Arabia is a betrayal of a critical ally that will have long-term repercussions across the Gulf.
  • 6 (14:26) **US Credibility and the Search for New Allies** - The panel discusses how the US is becoming a "liability" in the region, forcing Gulf states to seek security guarantees from other powers like Pakistan and Turkey.
  • 7 (17:00) **Why Saudi Arabia Can't Defend Itself** - Andy Milburn explains the technical and strategic reasons Riyadh needs US help, from a critical shortage of interceptors to a lack of offensive targeting capability.

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Guests on this episode

Jonathan Hackett

Show Notes

We break down the escalating Houthi campaign against Saudi Arabia, the growing threat to shipping through the Bab al-Mandab, and whether the U.S. will intervene as Gulf air-defense stocks and regional confidence in Washington come under strain. We also look at Europe’s fears of further Russian escalation, North Korea exploiting America’s divided attention, and Ukraine’s massive drone and missile strike campaign inside Russia.
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00:00 – Start
03:12 – Will the U.S. Strike the Houthis for Saudi Arabia?
06:34 – Houthis, Iran & the Bab al-Mandab
09:55 – Saudi Arabia’s Oil Routes Are Being Choked Off
17:01 – Why Saudi Arabia Can’t Defend Its Own Airspace
22:25 – Has the U.S. Lost Credibility in the Gulf?
29:24 – What Happens If Hormuz & Bab al-Mandab Are Both Shut?
33:00 – Will Washington Actually Strike the Houthis?
42:00 – Is There Any Military Solution to the Houthi Problem?
49:40 – Europe Prepares for Possible Russian Escalation
54:16 – Could Russia Test NATO With a Limited Attack?
59:09 – Should Europe Draw Hard Red Lines in Ukraine?
1:01:22 – North Korea Exploits America’s Divided Attention
1:05:25 – Ukraine Launches a Massive 1,000-Drone Strike Into Russia
1:10:27 – Closing Thoughts

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