The Houthi Rebels Just Launched a Major Ground Campaign…And It Backfired Immediately.

Across six months of war in the Middle East , the world has been trying to avoid one of the worst-case scenarios for this conflict , the entry of Yemen's Houthi rebels . Unusually well armed for a non-state actor , loyal to Iran, and positioned perfectly to threaten the vital shipping lanes of the Red Sea , the Houthi rebels have the ability to threaten many billions of dollars worth of maritime trade and collaborate with Iran to torch the global economy . Over the last few weeks, the world's worst fears are becoming true as the Houthis launched drones and missiles against their northern neighbor and bitter enemy, Saudi Arabia . Then, just this past Thursday, the 3rd of September , the situation deteriorated even further as the Houthis launched a major ground offensive to expand their control over Yemen's west coast . Hundreds of fighters from both sides have already been confirmed dead , global oil prices have nearly crested past 100 US dollars per barrel , and on Tuesday, the Houthis rained hell upon Saudi Arabia in their largest series of strikes in years . 73 people were reported wounded, including women and children , as several key oil installations were set aflame . But, if all of that sounds like the crisis is unrecoverable and Yemen's Houthi rebels are on the precipice of Middle East domination , well, think again. Despite . Despite the losses, despite the missiles, and despite the fact that the Houthi campaign is ongoing right now , Saudi Arabia and its Yemeni allies have a plan . Already, a massive counteroffensive is underway , cutting in against the Houthis from all directions and taking advantage of a main thrust that's left Houthi forces exposed . There are no guarantees on how all of this will shake out, at least not yet , but if Yemen's internationally recognized government is to be believed , then this could be the beginning of the end for the Houthi rebels . Yemen's leaders and their Saudi allies don't just want to repel the Houthi offensive , they want to take back Yemen's capital city of Sana'a and end the Houthi threat once and for all