Sheba Intelligence | July 20, 2026

     According to information obtained by Sheba Intelligence, a high-level meeting of the Houthi military intelligence leadership, chaired by Abu Ali al-Hakim, approved plans to launch a new phase of military escalation targeting Saudi Arabia.

Sources said the meeting concluded with decisions to prepare missile and drone operations against Saudi territory, while also discussing the issuance of new warnings directed at the Saudi-led coalition and preparations for an announcement concerning the closure of the Bab al-Mandab Strait in what the group is expected to frame as support for Iran.

The meeting reportedly focused on redistributing operational responsibilities among commanders linked to the Houthi missile force. Those summoned included senior commanders responsible for missile operations alongside additional security and military officials associated with the force. According to the information received by Sheba Intelligence, Iranian and Lebanese military advisers also participated in the consultations.

Among the senior commanders reported to have attended were Abu Ali al-Hakim, Yahya al-Mutari, Abdulwali al-Houthi, Abdulmalik al-Kabsi, Ali Ismail Abu Dunya, Youssef al-Razami, Abdulmalik Mohammed Hassan Abu Talib, Ahmed Mohammed al-Jawhari, Khalil al-Sulaimi, Mohammed al-Shaer, and Mohammed al-Junaid.

The information indicates that the planned military actions would be coordinated across multiple operational fronts as part of a broader escalation plan.

Background

The reported decisions come only hours after the Houthi movement formally announced a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia, declaring what it described as a new phase of confrontation under the slogan “blockade for blockade.”

The announcement closely matched an exclusive assessment published earlier by Sheba Intelligence, which revealed that senior Houthi leaders had held meetings attended by the Iranian ambassador and Iranian military advisers, concluding that the movement had moved beyond military preparations toward the formal launch of a broader escalation campaign.

That earlier assessment identified several indicators, including heightened military readiness, missile-force redeployments, intensified mobilization, and preparations for political and military announcements following signs that efforts to contain the crisis had failed.

If confirmed, the latest military intelligence meeting would represent another indication that the Houthi leadership is translating those preparations into operational planning, potentially expanding the conflict beyond Yemen and further increasing risks to Red Sea security and regional stability.