The Economist The Saudi Crown Prince Faces an Unprecedented Political and Economic Test Amid the Stumbling of the Yemen File

A lengthy report published by the British magazine “The Economist” shed light on a compound crisis facing the Saudi policies, considering that Riyadh is living through an unprecedented test in the files of economic transformation, the management of the Yemen war, and the security relationship with the US.
Follow-ups — Al-Khabar Al-Yemeni:
The magazine says that the concentration of decision-making in the hands of the Crown Prince, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, places the leadership before direct obligations and responsibilities for the results of the military and economic choices.
The report affirms that the “Ansar Allah” group still retains major population centers of influence despite the military operations continuing since 2015. With the renewal of the fighting following the collapse of the 2022 truce, the field witnessed developments represented in the Houthi forces’ control over areas on the southwestern coast such as Al-Mokha, while the counter-attack of the Riyadh-backed forces collided with limited progress that stopped near the Dhubab area.
“The Economist” made clear that the field challenges are doubling in light of the dispersion of the anti-Houthi forces and the absence of a unified and effective Yemeni army on the ground, along with the repercussions of the Saudi-Emirati dispute that led to the withdrawal of the Emirati forces, which left Riyadh managing the battle in isolation from its most prominent ally. The Saudi leadership faces difficult options ranging between sending ground forces for a long war of attrition, or continuing the aerial strikes without guarantees of a decisive victory, or entering into a political settlement that may grant the Houthis large gains.
The report touched on the expansion of the confrontation to the Saudi depth, shedding light on attacks that hit vital facilities, among them Riyadh Airport and the headquarters of the Aramco company in Dhahran. The magazine explained that