Behind the Bullets and Bombs: The Intelligence War Between Houthis and Saudi Arabia is Decisive

Nawaf Obaid assesses that the military power map in Yemen is undergoing a significant shift. In the previous phase, the Houthis are believed to have successfully exploited several weaknesses on the western front through a complex command and control system.

This system is said to combine Russian intelligence obtained via satellite with Iran’s capability to process and utilise that information for field operations. Furthermore, the author notes the presence of human infiltration within the National Resistance forces led by Tareq Saleh.

According to this analysis, Houthian progress is not primarily driven by numerical superiority, but rather by their ability to obtain a relatively accurate picture of enemy positions, command headquarters, communication lines, and various coordination gaps among opposing forces. This information has allowed the Houthis to exploit weaknesses in Yemen’s western coastal region.

In an opinion piece published by Al Jazeera, cited on Tuesday (29/09/2026), Obaid explains that Russia provides elements of satellite-based geospatial intelligence and signals intelligence. Meanwhile, Iran is said to play a role in integrating this information into the Houthi command system, enabling the tracking of troop movements, positions, communication patterns, and relationships between leaders.