Krieg in Nahost: Huthi-Miliz reklamiert Angriffe in Saudi-Arabien

The Yemen-based Huthi militia has once again claimed attacks within Saudi Arabia, including the capital Riyadh, according to a Huthi spokesperson. They stated the group had launched dozens of ballistic missiles and drones at "sensitive targets" in Riyadh and facilities of the Saudi oil company Aramco in the Red Sea port city of Yanbu.

These attacks reportedly triggered several major fires. The claims could not be independently verified. The spokesperson said the recent assaults were in retaliation for over 700 Saudi airstrikes in Yemen. Saudi Arabia backs the internationally recognized Yemeni government in its prolonged conflict with the Huthi militia. The country has been under repeated attack from the southern neighbor since the latest escalation in the Yemen war.

Eyewitnesses initially reported a fuel tank fire at Riyadh's international airport, which temporarily disrupted flights. Neither the official statement nor Saudi Arabia addressed the incidents. The Huthi militia had recently gained control of the crucial Bab al-Mandab strait in a swift offensive, gaining access to the vital Red Sea waterway.

This poses a significant setback for Saudi Arabia and international shipping. The strait's importance has increased due to the Hormuz crisis: Saudi Arabia aims to divert some of its oil exports to Asia via the Red Sea. Yemeni forces reported recently stopping a Huthi infiltration attempt in the oil-rich Marib province south of Riyadh, killing twelve Huthi fighters and wounding others.

The remaining Huthi fighters fled the area. The recent battles are part of an ongoing escalation since several months. A ceasefire agreed upon in 2022 was renounced by the Huthi after Saudi Arabia prevented a flight from Tehran to Sanaa. Amid the expanding war involving Iran, the fighting has resurfaced, plunging the already impoverished nation deeper into civil war.