Saudi Arabia’s window to exit the conflict in Yemen without jeopardizing all of its gains is quickly closing, as the United States transitions to a less Riyadh-friendly government, and as Houthi rebels seek deeper concessions on the ground. On Nov. 17, Saudi Arabia reportedly offered the Houthis a buffer zone along the Saudi-Yemeni border in exchange for drawing down its forces in the country. This move marks a significant downgrade to the original Saudi objectives in the country, as well as a tacit acknowledgment of the likely longevity of the Houthi political and military presence in Yemen. Waning external support for the Yemen war, combined with economic pressures from low oil prices and the COVID-19 pandemic, has increased Saudi Arabia's impetus to withdraw from Yemen, forcing Riyadh to accept the failure of its five-year military intervention .