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(Jared Szuba) (https://www.al-monitor.com/authors/jared-szuba.html) Jared Szuba (A US Boeing KC-135 air refueling tanker flies) A US Boeing KC-135 air refueling tanker flies during Air Force exercises on Oct. 12, 2018. — Genya SAVILOV/ AFP via Getty Images WASHINGTON — US military advisers are quietly helping Saudi commanders analyze intelligence on Houthi positions in Yemen as Riyadh directs progovernment forces in an ongoing (https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/10/turkey-pakistan-deploy-forces-saudi-arabia-amid-houthi-attacks) offensive against the rebels, three people familiar with the matter told Al-Monitor. The targeting support is coupled with US Air Force refueling sorties to keep Saudi fighter jets aloft as they thwart potential missile threats originating from Yemen, two of the sources said. The assistance marks a partial reversal of US disengagement from Saudi Arabia’s involvement in Yemen’s war in recent years. It also treads a fine line as Washington seeks to contain the economic fallout of its war with Iran without triggering further escalation around the region’s strategic waterways. The Pentagon's headquarters for the Middle East, US Central Command (CENTCOM), ramped up its advising mission for Saudi Arabia as the Houthis last month routed Saudi-backed Yemeni government-aligned forces in a surprise offensive. The offensive saw the rebels capture much of Yemen's southwestern coast overlooking the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the mouth of the Red Sea. SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE Continue reading this exclusive analysis Original reporting and analysis unavailable elsewhere. Subscribe to AL-MONITOR to read this story and access everything we publish (https://www.al-monitor.com/checkout?utm_alm_paywall_content_type_source=article&utm_alm_subscribe_form_referrer=paywall_tier_3) See Offers Read By (White House logo) (NATO Logo) (World Bank logo) (European Union logo) (United Nations logo) (Foreign and Commonwealth Office logo) (Harvard University logo) Related Articles (US President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman) Analysis (https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/09/why-trump-no-rush-join-yemen-war-houthis-seize-bab-al-mandeb) Why Trump is in no rush to join Yemen war as Houthis seize Bab al-Mandeb (https://www.al-monitor.com/authors/jared-szuba.html) (Jared Szuba) (https://www.al-monitor.com/authors/jared-szuba.html) Jared Szuba In Washington, DC , reporting on defense, national security, military (Vessels transit the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of the port city of Bandar Abbas in southern Iran) (https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/10/hormuz-tanker-attacks-mount-putting-oil-flows-risk) Hormuz tanker attacks mount, putting oil flows at risk (https://www.al-monitor.com/authors/jared-szuba.html) (Jared Szuba) (https://www.al-monitor.com/authors/jared-szuba.html) Jared Szuba In Washington, DC , reporting on defense, national security, military (boats and a container ship near the Strait of Bab al-Mandeb) Analysis (https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/09/houthi-gains-yemen-are-testing-saudi-arabias-security-strategy) Houthi gains in Yemen are testing Saudi Arabia’s security strategy (https://www.al-monitor.com/authors/francesco-schiavi) (Francesco Schiavi) (https://www.al-monitor.com/authors/francesco-schiavi) Francesco Schiavi In Bologna , reporting on security, defense, economy, governance (F-15 Eagle fighter jets fly over the race course during the 129th Boston Marathon on April 21, 2025, in Boston, Massachusetts. Four F-15s fighters have been destroyed during the US war against Iran, according to the Defense Department's inspector general.) (https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/09/us-military-confirms-iran-war-has-led-munitions-shortfall) US military confirms Iran war has led to munitions shortfall Agence France-Presse Related Newsletters (YEMEN-SAUDI-ISRAN-US-ISRAEL-WAR Saudi-backed Yemen government soldiers gather near the Jabal Han front, west of the city of Taiz, following fierce battles earlier in the day as Yemen's Houthis reportedly attempted to seize control of the main route between the inland city of Taiz and the coastal city of Aden, on October 3, 2026. The civil war, which dates to 2014 but had been dormant following a truce in 2022 roared back to life in July, as the wider Middle East war ignited another front. 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Newsletter: Gulf (https://www.al-monitor.com/newsletter/2026-09-23/gulfs-un-agenda) The Gulf's UN agenda (https://www.al-monitor.com/authors/francesco-schiavi) (Francesco Schiavi) (https://www.al-monitor.com/authors/francesco-schiavi) Francesco Schiavi In Bologna , reporting on security, defense, economy, governance (A commercial vessel is anchored off Yemen's coast at Bab al-Mandeb, in the straits connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean on Sept. 12, 2026.) 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