By Afshain Afzal
Sunday, the 20th of September 2026 remained comparatively calm where no major operation was carried out. In the recent development, Saudi Arabia acted quite wise as a true leader of Islamic world. Saudi’s own military might plus double assurance by a number of countries guarantying D minus 4 timeframe required to neutralize all 21 targets in order to eliminate Houthis, but orders by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to hold hands in launching unified joint operation by Saudi Arabia, Turkey plus three, punishing Houthis for continuous breaching Saudi sovereignty.
If we recall, a UN-brokered truce in 2022 halted large-scale fighting between groups in Yemen but this month Houthis violated the truce and captured vast pockets of areas, killed UN recognized Yemeni Government forces and civilians and caused thousands of families to leave their houses for safe places. The Houthis in their misadventures also started breaching Saudi sovereignty, causing huge damage to Saudi civilian infrastructure of vital importance including oil pipelines, airports, public and private structures and human lives.
Yemeni and Iraqi non-state actors including ruling leadership in Tehran must realize that causing damage to property and lives of a Muslim nation is great unpardonable sin according to Al Quran. There should be no doubt that statement attributed to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. “Saudi military forces could easily take control of Yemen and dismantle the Houthi presence within just a single week if they were not deliberately holding back out of deep concern for the safety of innocent civilians”. Muslims should be quite clear about Almighty Allah’s guidance in Surah Al-Hujuraat, Ayat 9, “And if two factions among the Momineen kills each other; make settlement between the two. But if one of them oppresses the other, then fight against the one that oppresses until it obeys the orders of Allah. And if it returns to peace, then make settlement between them enforce justice. Indeed, Allah is friend of those who do justice.”
In addition to Makkah Joint Defence Agreement that is to get operational when Saudi Arabia requisition the force, Saudi Arabia plus four are already at dominating position. Al-Hudaydah, has is a crucial entry point for around 80% of Yemen's imports and the Yemeni Government forces have taken position with focus on the port of Al Hudaydah, however, they confirmed that there is no intention to conduct operations at port area as it is strategic asset belonging to people of Yemen, not Houthis or Government forces. A local commander said, “We expect Houthis keep the port area as well as Tihamah coastal plain near the Red Sea neutral and move out of the areas.” A message of pre-operation message of peace has been delivered. Till Thursday the situation is crucial as it depends on Houthis to stop breaching Saudi Arabian sovereignty or civilian population might be asked to leave areas before Wednesday night to conduct operations with an aim to clear Houthis and after allowing the civilians to return, Friday prayers can be offered grand mosque of Al Hudaydah. Let us hope peace is restored between all Houthis and Government forces in Yemen with endangering lives of civilians.