The Saudi-led coalition announced that its naval forces carried out a military operation in Yemen’s western Hodeidah Governorate, targeting Houthi military capabilities that it said were being prepared for imminent attacks against shipping lanes in the southern Red Sea.

Coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki said the operation destroyed military targets belonging to the Houthis, including weapons storage facilities, depots containing explosive-laden boats and stockpiles of naval mines.

Al-Maliki said the operation disrupted a plan for imminent attacks against maritime routes in the southern Red Sea, adding that the action was part of the coalition’s efforts to protect maritime security and freedom of navigation through the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Naval Operation Expands “Dawn of Yemen” Campaign

The Hodeidah operation comes as the coalition significantly expands its military support for Yemeni government forces under Operation “Dawn of Yemen,” which has opened simultaneous fronts across several parts of the country.

Earlier on Monday, Al-Maliki announced that 100 coalition fighter aircraft participated in the opening phase of Operation “Dawn of Yemen,” with coalition aircraft destroying 324 high-value targets as the campaign began. He said the coalition was providing round-the-clock air support to Yemeni government forces and maintaining aerial protection over the Bab al-Mandab Strait, while operations against mobile targets were continuing.

The scale of the air campaign highlights the coalition’s direct operational role in the latest phase of the war and places control and protection of the southern Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab at the center of the campaign.

In the opening stages of Operation “Dawn of Yemen,” Yemeni government forces retook the Bab al-Mandab area and Dhubab district, including Dhubab Airport, before advancing along the western coastal theater.

Government forces subsequently captured Mocha, strengthening their position along the southern Red Sea coast and creating additional pressure on Houthi positions farther north toward Hodeidah.

At the same time, government forces have expanded operations across Taiz, Marib, Hajjah, Saada and Al-Jawf, combining ground advances with intensive coalition air support, drone operations, artillery and missile strikes.

The latest naval operation in Hodeidah therefore represents a further expansion of the campaign into the maritime domain, with coalition forces now directly targeting Houthi naval capabilities that could threaten commercial shipping and military movements in the Red Sea.

Mecca Defense Alliance Moves Into Operational Phase

The naval operation also coincided with a significant regional development after Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey announced the immediate implementation of their collective defense commitments under the Mecca Defense Alliance.

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman said an emergency meeting of the alliance’s Political and Defense Strategy Committee reaffirmed the solidarity of the three member states and their commitment to stand together against attacks targeting Saudi Arabia and the Islamic holy sites.

According to a joint statement, the three countries strongly condemned the attempted targeting of Mecca and Medina, as well as continued attacks on Saudi cities and civilian and economic facilities.

The committee decided to move immediately toward the practical implementation of mutual defense commitments, including making available agreed military forces and capabilities and accelerating their deployment to Saudi Arabia in accordance with approved arrangements and the national laws of the participating states.

The decision marks a shift by the alliance from political and military coordination toward an operational collective-defense framework involving deployable military capabilities.

The three states said the security of each member should be regarded as part of their collective security and that implementation of the agreement would strengthen deterrence, military integration and their joint ability to respond to emerging threats.

Pakistan and Turkey also praised the readiness and performance of the Saudi Armed Forces in confronting recent threats and attacks against the Kingdom.

First Secretary-General Appointed

As part of the institutional development of the alliance, the committee appointed retired Pakistani Lt. Gen. Nauman Mahmood as the first Secretary-General of the Mecca Defense Alliance for a three-year term.

The committee also approved recommendations resulting from earlier political and military consultations, indicating that the alliance is moving toward more permanent mechanisms for command, coordination and joint defense planning.

Red Sea Becomes Central Theater

The convergence of these developments places the Red Sea at the center of the current military escalation.

Coalition air power is supporting Yemeni government advances across several fronts, including operations around Bab al-Mandab and the western coast, while naval forces are now targeting Houthi maritime capabilities in Hodeidah.

Together, the deployment of 100 fighter aircraft, the destruction of hundreds of high-value targets, the expansion of naval operations and the activation of collective-defense mechanisms among Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey point to a wider regional military effort aimed at protecting Saudi territory, securing Bab al-Mandab and reducing the Houthis’ ability to threaten maritime traffic in the southern Red Sea.