Saudi Arabia Order of Battle for the al Houthi Conflict

CTP provides a breakdown of units that are currently engaged in the conflict along Yemen’s northwest border with the al Houthi rebels, as well as units that may be involved based on their areas of responsibility. The document only provides information that could be confirmed using open source material.

Al Houthi Conflict Theater (Along Yemeni Border)

Army Units:

Southern Area Command HQ[1]- King Abd al-Aziz Military City (KAAMC) – Khamis Mushayt (objective of this Command is to protect border with Yemen)

• 4th Armored Brigade[2] - Khamis Mushayt (confirmed deployment to Yemeni border area)[3]
• 10th Mechanized Brigade[4] - Khamis Mushayt
• 11th Mechanized Brigade[5] - Khamis Mushayt

Royal Guard Regiment HQ[6] - Riyadh

• King Abdul Aziz Military City – Khamis Mushayt Area

Saudi Paratroopers[7] – Tabuk Army Base (Paratroop Commander Prince Fahd Turki Bin Abdul Aziz[8]) (1,300 troops confirmed to have been deployed to Jebel al Dokhan area near border)[9]

2 Aviation Brigade (Attack Helicopters)[10] – King Khalid Military City (confirmed deployment to al Shada area near border)[11]

• Attack Helicopter-64A
• Saudi Special Forces – Airborne Brigade HQ[12] - Riyadh (confirmed deployment from Airborne Brigade to Jebel al Dokhan area near border)[13]

Note: Saudi Arabia is building a fourth military installation in Jizan Province, which is the site of the current conflict on the Yemeni border.[14]

Air Force Units:

King Khalid air base (18° 18' 29" N; 42° 48' 20" E)[15] - Khamis Mushayt

Royal Saudi Air Force 5 Wing[16] (confirmed deployment to Yemeni border area)

• No. 6 Squadron (F-15S/Multirole Fighter)[17] – Khamis Mushayt
• No. 55 Squadron (F-15S/Multirole Fighter)[18] – Khamis Mushayt
• No. 99 Squadron (Cougar Mk II/Combat Support)[19] – Khamis Mushayt

Detachment (AB 212/Utility Transport/Search and Rescue)[20] – Khamis Mushayt

Detachment (Bell 412/Utility Transport/Search and Rescue)[21] – Khamis Mushayt

King Faisal Air Base (28° 21' 55" N; 36° 37' 08" E)[22] - Tabuk

Royal Saudi Air Force 7 Wing[23] (confirmed deployment to Yemeni border area)[24] 

• No. 29 Squadron (Tornado ADV/Air Defence)[25] – Tabuk
• No. 2 Squadron (F-15C/Air Defence)[26] – Tabuk

Navy Units:

The Saudi Navy has established a blockade along the west coast of Yemen to prevent the shipment of arms and reinforcements to the al Houthi rebels. The Navy has deployed at least 4,000 personnel, which could include Marines, to support the blockade.[27] 

Western Fleet Bases (Red Sea)[28]

• Yanbu (naval facility in civilian port)
• Al Wajh (naval facility for patrol boats in civilian port)
• Haqi (naval facility for patrol boats in civilian port)
• Duba (naval facility in civilian oil terminal)
• As Sharmah (naval facility for patrol[29])

Western Fleet ships[30] (Western Fleet ships are confirmed to have deployed to implement blockade, but specific units involved are unknown)

• La Fayette Type F-3000S frigates
• Al Madina-class frigates
• As Siddiq-class fast attack craft (missile)
• Halter-class patrol craft
• Simmoneau 51-class inshore patrol craft
• Durrance-class replenishment ships

Royal Saudi Marines[31]

• 2nd Marine Battalion (approximately 1,500 Troop Strength, primary mission is to provide infantry support to Western Fleet) – Qadimah 

Naval Aviation[32]

• Squadron (AS 565SA/SAR/ASW/ASMD) – King Faisal Naval Base (Jeddah)
• Squadron (AS 532AL/Transport/ASMD) – King Faisal Naval Base (Jeddah)