Trump SENDS NAVY as Yemen SMASHES Saudi Airport, Iran Blitzes Hormuz | Pepe Escobar

Summary

Danny Haiphong and geopolitical analyst Pepe Escobar discuss reports of escalating conflict involving Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the United States.

Yemen–Saudi Front

Haiphong cites reports that Yemen’s Ansar Allah forces struck airports, including Riyadh’s main airport, and that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has moved between secure locations. Escobar says the strikes are part of a wider Yemeni campaign and argues that Saudi or US air attacks would not defeat Ansar Allah. In his view, Yemen’s mountainous terrain, local intelligence, and tribal relationships would make a ground invasion especially costly.

Possible US Involvement

The hosts discuss reports that US Navy SEAL reservists may have been ordered to the region, as well as President Trump’s statement that the United States might join Saudi strikes. Escobar warns that intervention could bring a humiliating setback for Washington, similar to what he describes as a previous US retreat from the Red Sea. He speculates that Saudi and Israeli pressure may be influencing Trump, while emphasizing that the motives and plans remain unclear.

Iran and the Strait of Hormuz

Haiphong and Escobar describe repeated attacks on tankers and heightened restrictions on shipping. Escobar says Iran is enforcing passage through a designated route near its waters and argues that vessels attempting other routes face serious risks. He also says oil continues to move through smuggling and ship-to-ship transfers, and claims Iran has adapted to sanctions through regional trade, barter, and alternative payment systems. He acknowledges that sanctions and inflation have hurt Iran but argues that they have not stopped its economy.

Saudi Vulnerabilities

Escobar argues that further escalation could threaten Saudi oil infrastructure and exports, worsen financial pressure, and intensify internal rivalries among the royal family and marginalized groups. He portrays the Saudi leadership as increasingly vulnerable, though these outcomes are presented as possibilities rather than established developments.

Diplomatic Prospects

Escobar sees mediation involving China, Iran, and Pakistan as the most plausible route to de-escalation, but considers it unlikely in the near term. He says Ansar Allah has signaled openness to mediation, while Pakistan may be reluctant to become involved in a war alongside Saudi Arabia. He describes diplomatic channels as stalled and warns that renewed US or Israeli attacks could prompt Iran to act preemptively.

Wider Regional Implications

Escobar argues that Yemen and Iran should be viewed as connected fronts and that pressure on them is strengthening, rather than weakening, the broader “Axis of Resistance.” He frames the crises as evidence that the regional order built after the Ottoman Empire—and centered in part on Saudi Arabia and Israel—is under strain.

Haiphong questions whether Washington has a coherent plan. Escobar concludes that the United States and its partners are reacting without a clear strategy and considering scenarios as events unfold.

Presenters and Contributors

• Danny Haiphong — presenter
• Pepe Escobar — geopolitical analyst and independent journalist