TheImmortal
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Correct me if I'm mistaken but the Houthis never took Aden did they ? The Saudis were never required to implement an amphibious landing or fight to take the city back ? I'm pretty certain the Saudis simply landed in Aden and used their air support to blunt the Houthis advance towards Aden.
Most of Aden was surrounded and they brought troops and equipment via land and sea. Thus within a year they were able to take back South Yemen, which is a quite successful operation. The difference is the motivation to take back South Yemen was greater than Houthi’s will to hold it.
Then the war became a stalemate and war of attrition and conventional militaries don’t do well in war of attrition’s.
Another point about Saudi Air Power, yes they have strong airforce but terrible targeting data (even with US assisting them locating a bank of targets). More of the air strikes killed civilians and hit civilian targets rather than critical strikes on Houthi supply lines or military targets. Now just imagine how bad it would be if US WASNT providing targeting data.