Houthi threat to Red Sea draws US military support for Saudi Arabia (Reuters photo)US provides battlefield targeting supportShipping routes face fresh riskMore than 100 US military advisers are in Saudi Arabia helping the kingdom with intelligence and targeting as it battles Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen, five sources familiar with the operations told CNN.The US personnel are working under a joint forces command established in recent weeks, amid concerns that Iran is increasing its support for Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. One US official put the number of American troops involved at about 200.The deployment comes as fighting intensifies across the Arabian Peninsula and threatens to widen into a broader conflict. It also raises fears that another major shipping route out of the Middle East could be disrupted.The US military has helped Saudi Arabia use a system that gives commanders a real-time view of battlefield developments, one US official told CNN. Iran responded that “Iran does not control the Houthis”.Pakistan said on Thursday that there had been no discussions about a military response under the Mecca agreement following the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. It added, however, that Pakistan would act when the “time comes”.
