Saudi Arabia issued a statement shortly ago, through what it calls the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen, in which it claimed responsibility for carrying out airstrikes on Al Hudaydah Governorate.

What was notable in the statement was the shift from the objective of eliminating the Yemeni government to the objective of protecting Saudi Arabia only. The statement said:

“The Coalition leadership will continue to take all operational measures and necessary steps to protect our ships, safeguard the Kingdom’s interests, and protect its national capabilities.”

It is worth noting that protecting the Kingdom is not among the stated missions of the coalition, which was announced in 2015 to remove the Yemeni government.

Saudi Arabia launched a coalition in 2015 to remove the Yemeni government and install a new government aligned with Saudi Arabia. The military operation ultimately failed.