Saudi Arabia leads global participation in World Space Week 2025

Last week, some Saudi students were advised to attend classes online due to Houthi threats, only to be allowed back in school the following day. The Houthi militia in Yemen has been intensifying attacks on Saudi Arabia since July, firing numerous missiles and drones over the border. They have also expanded their control in Yemen, securing coastlines and Red Sea islands, gaining access to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and controlling maritime traffic.

This development poses a threat to Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, a plan to diversify the economy away from oil dependence, requiring stability. Marcus Schneider, head of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation's Regional Peace and Security Project, notes the escalating conflict as a "one-two punch of pipeline attacks and Red Sea seizures."

Saudi Arabia's energy infrastructure is at risk from Houthi attacks, including the East-West pipeline, which transports oil and has been temporarily disrupted. The US is unlikely to intervene directly, as it is currently engaged in a war with Iran and facing challenges with its own military resources. European countries are providing support, including Italy and France, but it is unclear if their assistance can significantly alter the military situation in Yemen.